Fashion has always been a form of self-expression, but for some designers, it is something more – a statement, a rebellion, an act of defiance against the status quo. Sarah Regensburger does not design merely to adorn bodies; she designs to challenge systems. Hers is not just a label; it is a manifesto. A German-born, London-based designer of Iranian heritage, Regensburger stands at the intersection of art, activism, and ethical innovation.
Her philosophy is simple yet radical: “Be a badass that does good.”
A Rebellion with a Cause
To exist outside of the mainstream, to refuse its conventions, and to disrupt the norm is to be a rebel. But rebellion without intention is anarchy; rebellion with purpose is revolution. Regensburger’s work embodies the latter – a fierce rejection of the exploitative, wasteful, and cruel practices that have long defined the fashion industry.
She does not see fabric as mere material, but as a choice, a commitment, a responsibility. Her designs are a response to an industry that often values aesthetics over ethics. The soft sheen of cactus leather, the lush texture of bamboo fur – these are not gimmicks; they are a declaration that beauty should never come at the cost of another being’s suffering.
Veganism is a guiding principle, a philosophy that extends beyond food into the very fibres of her creations. She does not take life to create art, and was awarded the prestigious title of Designer of the Year by PETA in 2022.
Dressing Icons, Redefining Iconography
Regensburger’s work has been worn by some of the most boundary-pushing artists of our time – Lady Gaga for Vogue, Björk in her upcoming film and National Geographic cover, Taylor Swift on tour and in teNeues book of her iconic looks, as well as Noah Cyrus for MARVIN (header image), Rickey Thompson, Caitlyn Mwenifumbo, Rita Ora and more! These are not just celebrities; they are cultural architects, individuals who shape the way we see art, music, and fashion. And when they wear Regensburger, they do more than look striking – they carry a message.
Each garment is not just fabric stitched together but a conversation starter. A dress is never just a dress when it challenges the deeply ingrained belief that luxury must be lined with cruelty. A jacket is not just a jacket when it redefines what “leather” can be. Regensburger is not merely making clothes; she is dismantling traditions, replacing them with something better.
The Ethics of Aestheticism
Historically, fashion has been a paradox – both a realm of endless creativity and a machine of oppression, a playground for reinvention yet a system built on extraction. Regensburger disrupts this paradox by proving that sustainability and artistry are not at odds. Her collections blur the line between glamour and punk, merging decadence with defiance. The result is a body of work that is at once fierce and fluid, rebellious yet refined.
Her commitment to ethical production is not an afterthought or a marketing ploy; it is embedded in the DNA of her brand. Limited runs, fair wages, European craftsmanship – she embraces slow fashion in an industry addicted to speed. And in doing so, she offers a counterpoint to the disposable culture of fast fashion.
To wear Regensburger is to wear a belief system. It is a sartorial protest against apathy, an affirmation that beauty can be both radical and responsible.
Fashion as Activism
Regensburger’s designs are not merely garments; they are symbols of a shifting paradigm. They ask uncomfortable questions: What does it mean to be fashionable in a world on fire? Can art be beautiful if it is built on destruction? What if luxury was redefined as kindness?
These questions are not rhetorical, they demand action. And action is precisely what Regensburger stands for. Hers is a fashion house for the future, where aesthetics and ethics are inseparable, where rebellion is a duty, and where being a badass means making the world better.
In an era where the old ways are crumbling, Regensburger is not just designing clothes – she is designing a new world. A world where cruelty is unfashionable. A world where rebellion is responsibility. A world where beauty is ethical. And in that world, we are all the rebels with a cause.
To explore Sarah Regensburger‘s shop, click here!