LATEX FLOWER

Roses Are Red, Violets Are Gay

Name
Jan-Niklas Jessen
Education degree
Kandidat
Fagfelt
Design
Institute
Design, Product and Material
Program
Fashion, Clothing and Textiles - New Landscapes for Change
Year
2025
Awards
Månssons

"Rooted in memory and material, my work reflects on the quiet beauty of early queer expression—curtains as gowns, tassels as dolls, fabric as identity. I explore how softness, play, and transformation shaped not just my past, but echo a shared queer childhood imagination."

booo
.
research
.
Coat
.
coat
.
Shape & Designelements
.
color
.
range plan
.
every time we kissed,
we made a revolution
Joâo Pedro vale and Nuno Alexandre Ferreira
print
.
print
.
Fitting
.
tassel
.
tassel
.
Fitting
.
shape
.
Flower
.

The most beautiful part of this journey?
Seeing people wear my designs.
Their reactions. The way they feel seen.
How they play with tassels, walk confidently in a long cape, or wear a dramatic train that simply says: “I’m here.”

 

That—right there—is the message I was searching for.

 

We are here.
We are proud of who we are.
Of where we come from.
Each of us exists on a spectrum—and once we truly see that, we don’t need more words.

LOVE IS LOUDER
Jan-Niklas Jessen

The Royal Danish Academy supports the Sustainable Development Goals

Since 2017 the Royal Danish Academy has worked with the Sustainable Development Goals. This is reflected in our research, our teaching and in our students’ projects. This project relates to the following UN goal(-s)

Månssons

Juryen sagde: Projektet fremhæver den kamp, ​​de fleste mennesker går igennem som unge voksne og inviterer os til at drage omsorg for og forstå hinanden. Projektet er udviklet med omhyggelig overvejelse og udforskning af alle aspekter af designene. 

De kreative og tekniske færdigheder, der anvendes, udføres til en utrolig høj standard, hvor avanceret mønsterskæring og materialemanipulation møder konstruktion af fantastisk høj kvalitet. Jan-Niklas Jessens beklædningsgenstande er skabt til at holde og til at bringe viden og glæde til de mennesker, der engagerer sig i dem.

CV

I’m Jan-Niklas Jessen, a German designer who has spent over a decade shaping and refining my craft — from early explorations to formal studies in fashion and design.

As a designer, I explore the spectrum of masculinity through refined craftsmanship and precise tailoring. My work challenges binary structures and brings queer narratives to the forefront of menswear. I believe fashion holds power — to question, to express, to connect. Each piece I create reflects both technical skill and social intention. For me, design is not just aesthetic — it’s a tool for visibility, identity, and change.

Competitions, Publications & Awards

FINALIST APOLDA EUROPEAN DESIGN AWARD

FINALIST BEST GRADUATE NEO FASHION BERLIN

FINALIST TALENT OF THE YEAR SALLING FUTURE FRIENDLY AWARD 24

Education & Relevant Courses
-

APPRENTICESHIP AS A STATE APPROVED FASHION DESIGNER

-

BACHELOR FASHION DESIGN UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENES

Extracurricular Experiences & Activities
-

6+ Years of Experience in Customer-Focused Sales & Service

IT skills
Adobe InDesign
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Photoshop
Language skills
German
English