Zey Zerpentz: The Chilean Designer Reclaiming Emotion in Fashion

There’s a quiet storm brewing in Chile, and its name is Zey Zerpentz.

In an era where launching a clothing brand has become as trendy as the clothes themselves, Zey isn’t here to follow. He's here to feel. What began as a personal mission to "exploit" his creativity and define his own style, has gradually evolved into something far more meaningful: a way to connect with people and to build the kind of life he envisions through art-driven work.

Fashion With a Soul

Zey’s brand speaks to a specific kind of person, the ones in constant search of identity who see fashion as more than fabric. His audience isn’t necessarily made up of fashion insiders or industry elites. It’s people who are drawn to art, authenticity, and anything that challenges convention. People who aren’t afraid to wear their questions, their emotions, their weirdness out in the open. “They’re not just looking for clothes,” Zey says. “They’re looking for an identity, an artistic vision, and a proposal with content.”

And it shows. His pieces carry an emotional, experimental edge, often raw, always expressive. There’s beauty, yes, but not the soft, digestible kind. Zey wants his clothes to speak, to spark, to disturb.

“The message is always linked to the freedom to be,” he tells us. “To contrast, to break the established, and to question what fashion really is.” That’s the spirit that runs through every stitch.

Inspiration From the Abstract

Zey’s creative process isn’t driven by trends or marketability. Instead, it begins in the abstract with emotions, odd moments of the day, or random words that trigger visual ideas. He draws inspiration from what most of us would dismiss: a fleeting mood, a strange interaction, a piece of junk. “Sometimes a feeling leads me to a shape, sometimes a word leads me to a texture,” he explains. He writes, he observes, he reflects, and only then does he design.

The materials follow the concept, not the other way around. Zey gravitates toward contrast, rough textures next to smooth ones, rigid fabrics with something soft, or recycled materials that have lived other lives. Nothing is random. “I care that the material helps tell the story of the garment,” he says. “It should have a presence of its own, not go unnoticed.”

Standing Out in a Crowded Space

Of course, standing out is no small task in Chile, where streetwear and indie fashion labels have exploded in popularity. “It became fashionable to create clothing brands,” Zey says. “So you have to stand out if you want to do well.” Fortunately, his designs, by nature of their depth and boldness, do just that. Still, breaking through the noise requires more than just a strong product. He’s had to teach himself how to use social media creatively, turning to video content to help his pieces reach more eyes without watering down the message.

When asked what separates his work from others, Zey doesn’t hesitate. “I humbly believe that there’s a difference between brands that follow trends and brands that make fashion.”

For him, it’s not just about designing something cool or current. It’s about crafting pieces that say something. Clothes with form and feeling. Garments that are complex, expressive, and undeniably his. “If my brand grew,” he adds, “it would give a good image to the Chilean industry.” Not as a clone of the global fashion machine but as a distinct voice from Latin America doing things differently.

Looking Ahead

And Zey has no plans of slowing down. He sees his brand evolving into something bigger than a clothing line, a full-blown artistic platform. Collaborations, public interventions, experimental projects, that’s where he’s headed. Commercial success is welcome, but it’s not the point. The point is to build something honest, emotional, and lasting. A brand that doesn’t just sell fashion but redefines it.

Advice for the Next Wave

To the emerging designers trying to find their footing in the chaos, Zey offers some solid, no-bullshit advice: don’t be afraid to be weird. “Do something uncomfortable or different,” he says. “Don’t just stick with what you see on the networks.” It’s tempting to chase likes, trends, and easy wins. But the real work? It’s slower. Messier. But if it’s honest, it’s worth it.

And if there’s one thing Zey Zerpentz wants to give back to fashion, it’s depth. Meaning. A soul. “Sometimes I feel that fashion is very overloaded with empty image,” he admits. “That’s why I’m interested in giving it back depth.” Whether or not someone buys one of his pieces, he wants them to feel something. Even if they can’t name it.

Because in the end, that’s the power of fashion when it’s done right. It doesn’t just make you look good. It makes you feel.

Follow Zey Zerpentz

IG: @Zey_drr Chile-based, globally felt.

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