EKCENTRIK'S “SWEAT”: Dance Self-Expression & Fearless Femininity

From Warsaw to the world, EKCENTRIKs new collection SWEAT isn't just about getting dressed, it's about getting free. Founded by sisters Avelina Rach and Milena Rach, the label was born out of contradiction: a culture of rigidity on one side, and the pulse of self-expression on the other. What they built is a space that doesn't ask for permission. A love letter to dance, identity, and fearless femininity, however you define it.

Inspired by dance in all its forms, from jazz to dancehall, hip hop to contemporary, the collection pulses with the kind of energy that comes from losing yourself to music. It's made for everyone who's chased that fleeting, intoxicating moment: when the beat drops and your body forgets the rules. That's the essence of SWEAT where activewear meets lingerie meets liberation.

Liquid Movement, Solid Message

The video campaign, directed by Adam Romanowski and featuring Neo Mosa and Laura Klaus, doesn't just show you the clothes; it moves you through them. With a poetic voiceover by Neo Mosa and music by Vola, it's a visceral experience. Dancer Dana Vitkovska's movement direction turns every step into a story, one of strength, softness, and infinite fluidity.

Water serves as the core motif, feminine, adaptable, and essential. As Neo puts it: Feminine energy is like water. It can shift in many ways, but then it stays itself. This isn't a collection that plays it safe. It doesn't just lean into sensuality, it owns it, redefines it, and reclaims it.

Beyond the Binary

EKCENTRIK doesn't do binaries. Not in gender, not in fashion. Inspired by the ballroom scene but never appropriative, the brand makes space for the artists who live and breathe that world. It's not about taking, it's about collaborating, elevating, and celebrating. Every sheer panel and exposed silhouette is an invitation to wear your body with pride, whatever that body looks like, whoever that body belongs to.

Forget the rules. Forget the red lace if that's not your thing. But also? Rock it if it is. SWEAT is a second skin made for your first step into the spotlight, whether that's on stage, in the studio, or alone in your bedroom with the lights off and the music loud.

We had the pleasure of having a sit-down with Avelina and Milena to discuss everything EKCENTRIK, SWEAT, and beyond.

WILD SUNRISE reads like a love letter to heat, instinct, and skin. What was the first feeling or image that sparked this collection?

Growing up in Warsaw, we watched a society split in two. On one side: tradition, expectations, rules, boxes we were supposed to fit into. On the other hand, something freer, wilder, undefined. Something that felt like us. That's where EKCENTRIK came from. A space to breathe. A space to move. A space where you don't ask for permission.

Your design philosophy is rooted in dance in movement. How do you design clothing that doesn't just survive the dancefloor, but thrives on it?

We've always loved movement. We're far from being professional dancers, but we love dancing. From an early age, we've always loved to try all kinds of styles: from modern jazz to dancehall, ballet, hip hop, video clip choreos, dance was always something we looked up to. We never stuck to one style, we just chased that special feeling. The moment when your body takes over your mind. The moment you let go. The moment you forget to be careful.

Your pieces blend athleisure comfort with party-wear confidence. How do you walk the line between softness and boldness, between sweat and sparkle?

Our activewear collection, SWEA,T was born from that feeling. That raw energy training, before stepping on stage. That first beat. That first drop of sweat. The release. Freedom.

You've said Ekcentrik is about living without fear or doubt. How do you translate that kind of emotional bravery into physical fabric?

The ballroom scene has always inspired us from an observer's point of view. The way it plays with gender, with fashion, with power. The way it says: this is me, take it or leave it. We never wanted to take from that world, only work with those who live it and leave such a beautiful impact on their way. Dancers who remind us what freedom and self-expression look like.

You're expanding into unisex and gender-fluid designs, men's boxers,and more inclusive lingerie. What sparked that shift, and how are you thinking differently in this new space?

We love to play with lingerie codes, sheer layers, tight silhouettes, exposed skin, and a second-skin feeling. But on our terms. You don't necessarily need the classic red lace to feel feminine. But you also don't need to hide and should wear whatever makes you feel best.

There's a poetic quality in your campaigns a kind of sweaty romanticism. Do you think fashion should always tell a story, or just let people write their own?

We decided to launch SWEAT for movement. Not just for the gym or your pilates class, for the club, the street, a moment with friends. Wherever you feel most alive, each piece is bold, but wearable. Daring, but comfortable. You can dance in it, sweat in it, live in it.

Avelina Rach and Milena Root: co-founders

The co-founders of EKCENTRIK created the brand to offer clothing that allows individuals to express their femininity, individuality, and alter ego. While they started with lingerie, they've expanded into ready-to-wear, drawing inspiration primarily from music and dance. Their initial collection was heavily influenced by David Bowie's music and the vibrant nightlife of the 80s, a theme they aim to carry through all their collections.

The current collection is designed for dancers of all levels, from professionals to those who simply enjoy casual movement. The goal is to provide clothing that ensures comfort, confidence, and freedom of movement. They expressed a deep connection to the project, particularly appreciating that the two other dancers and the music producer, Vola, all share a background in ballroom culture and voguing. This shared heritage, combined with the project's diverse representation of people of color and trans individuals, made the movement creation feel very natural, as their own dance experience is rooted in voguing.

When it comes to clothing, they prioritize individuality and personality. They seek unique pieces that allow for self-expression and provide a sense of comfort and confidence, ultimately choosing items that truly reflect who they are.

Dana Vitkovska (@danadelight): trans voguing dancer, movement director, Polish mother of International House of Elle

Dana, a queer, trans, Ukrainian artist, served as the choreographer, dancer, and movement director for this project. Their creative process was deeply influenced by their background in ballroom culture, particularly voguing, and their personal journey of embracing femininity through dance. Dana found inspiration in the project's diverse representation, noting the inclusion of people of color and trans individuals, and the music created by Vola, who also hails from the ballroom scene. The sounds within the music, especially those akin to voguing beats, resonated with Dana's experience, making it effortless to develop movements that embody strong, delicate, and fluid feminine energy. For Dana, the project became a powerful expression of liberation, protest, and feminism, aligning perfectly with the core tenets of ballroom.

Laura Klaus: voguing dancer, model. Famous for Face category winner at numerous balls

Laura, an Amsterdam-based fashion design student at the Amsterdam Fashion Institute, shares her unique perspective as a dancer and a tattoo artist of six years. When it comes to choosing clothes, whether for daily wear or dance, individuality and personality are paramount. She seeks pieces that are unique, allow for self-expression, and provide comfort and confidence.

For dancewear specifically, practicality is also key; the clothing must allow for full range of movement without restriction. Laura emphasizes that dance, especially voguing, serves as her primary form of self-expression. She transitioned to voguing after years in a male-dominated hip-hop community where she felt stifled and unable to express her femininity or sensuality. Moving to Warsaw at 16 and discovering voguing was a pivotal moment, completely shifting her mindset about dance. This newfound freedom and support from the voguing community allowed her to finally be herself, a feeling she had longed for since childhood.

Neo Mosa: trans performer, moderator, model

Neo, a model, performance artist, dancer, and musician from South Africa, shared her inspirations for creating the music for the video. She and her collaborators began with some guiding notes, but Neo found a strong personal connection to the concept of water. She was inspired by water's ability to shift and adapt in many ways while retaining its essence, a quality she believes mirrors feminine energy.

Neo also draws inspiration from past performance art, recalling a particularly impactful piece where she was almost naked, adorned only in athleisure shorts and jewelry, with a piano playing softly in the background. This performance was "very sensual" and highlights her preference for performances that embody contrast.