Today we’d like to introduce you to David Pfeifer
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My name is David Pfeifer, and this is my business/creative story so far:
Studying mechanical engineering and living downtown for four years at Cleveland State University, I met a group of friends that brought out my truest creative side. Naive, I sought to build a creative empire alongside them. Together, we created my first YouTube channel, ‘Oddinity,’ where we talked about culture, music, fashion, and the Cleveland creative scene. I found that having a creative and dedicated circle allowed me to bring out the best in them as they brought out the best in me, creating videos and ideas that were bigger than one persons technical abilities. We had videographers, journalists, designers, musicians; all working together for one common goal: to inspire and create. We are all still very tight knit, active in the scene, and collaborate on creative endeavors.
One friend in particular, Brandon Breznai, now working as a videographer for the Cleveland Guardians, was working for Tommy Guta at Cheddar Studios. It was winter break during my junior year when I was applying for engineering internships, and couldn’t shake the same thought process that I had since freshman year: to take the step into a committed life around creation. I reached out to the studio, inquiring about any engineering help they may need, and if I could fill a role at Cheddar Studios as part of the team. Low and behold, I began working unpaid at the studio for about half a year, helping build sets and various projects around the studio. Cutting wood, cleaning up, and painting was the name of the game. After enough time, I was able to start as a payed content creator, and over the next year I would be creating short-form content for brands like Brooks Brothers, Dollar Shave Club, and many, many more.
It was this time that I learned all of the necessary and foundational skills about running a creative business, videography, and the importance of collaboration. I was able to hone in my interests as well, understanding the industry more and niching down to fashion, connecting with two individuals who would eventually take the leap alongside me to start my business, being Damond Mathis and Cleveland DJ Mario Abou-Mitri.
In March of 2024, everything shifted at once, when the business model of the studio changed, I was no longer working as an in-house videographer, and switched to freelance/contract work. Although this was unexpected at the time, I knew that it was a critical and necessary step in my journey, and allowed for me to start fresh and create a business of my own with everything I had learned. Still very close with Tommy and the studio, I was able to maintain some video work to stay afloat as my partners and I got to the drawing board.
Summer of 24 was a learning experience through-and-through, gathering knowledge from every corner of the internet and my connections to start my own clothing brand that encapsulated more than just selling clothes. Similar to my YouTube channel, we intended to build a brand around the culture: incorporating artists, encouraging collaboration, and creating clothing that represented that you, the wearer, are a creative powerhouse. ‘endlesssventure,’ now ‘esve studios,’ was created, and we released our first 2 collections, 5 pieces in total, in quarter 4 of 2024.
Now we’re here, in March of 2025 at the time of writing this. My team and I are very sound, collaborating with the similarly youthful Cleveland production group ‘VIXIV,’ Cleveland journalist Daniel Newman, and many more. Beside all of the collaboration stands the core team, and we’ve been cooking. So far in 2025 we have been able to secure a personal-connection manufacturer, business funding, we’re on episode 3 of our ‘ON SET’ YouTube series promoting our clothes and creativity, and tons of new pieces on the way, all of which I am extremely proud of.
All in all, this is something that I have been building towards since reselling streetwear in high school, it was artists like Virgil Abloh, Tyler The Creator, and similar inspirations who instilled in me at a young age the idea that your life – your passion – is yours for the taking; that you can make something with your signature on it, stand back, be proud, and watch it grow.
If there is one thing that I stand for, that ‘esve studios’ stands for, it is this: If you do not amount to something greater than yourself, than you’ve amounted to nothing at all, only what was expected of anyone. Albeit, a bit polarizing, there is a lighthearted angle to this: if even one other person messes with your work, then you’ve amounted to something greater than yourself, and if somebody else like it, theres more like them out there – millions of them.
To achieve this, I believe it takes a great deal of sacrifice, collaboration, and passion, something that all of us are capable of or possess. I urge the reader to consider what they love the most, what they couldn’t live without, and go for it.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Everything considered, it has been. To look at the road bumps as anything other than a learning experience would be counter-intuitive to the process.
I struggled initially with a lack of a creative medium, but I knew what my interests passions and pursued that. Dropping out of school in my senior year was initially a struggle that brought uncertainty, but led to more certainty in the present moment. Essentially losing the losing the job that I dropped out for might seem world-crumbling on the outside, but I knew that my studio job wasn’t really the job that I dropped out for, that one I’m still working towards. I was broke, so I left downtown and worked a serving job to fund my business. We sold zero units on our first ever drop day in October, I could’ve stopped right there, but instant success can’t be expected.
These are just a few bumps alongside the countless trials and setbacks, big and small. Although not pretty, these were some necessary experiences that taught me things I could not have conjured otherwise.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Esve Studios, or endlesssventure fashion studios, is a fashion studio for the creative youth. We create streetwear that looks NYC while breathing CLE. We encourage and incorporate creative collaboration into all aspects of our business, from campaign shoots to events.
We set ourselves apart with really one thing: authenticity. We believe this is where true collaboration, relatability, and longevity stems from.
What I would like the reader to know about us? We have over over 20 pieces in the hands of our trusted manufacturer, 6 of which are coming very soon. We host a live DJ set and popup shop once a month, you can find details on our instagram for all of this @esvestudios on Instagram! Join our SMS list for discounts as well at esvestudios.com!
How do you define success?
I suppose I already mentioned this, so I’ll copy paste it here, this is a quote of mine:
If you do not amount to something greater than yourself, than you’ve amounted to nothing at all, only what was expected of anyone.
Albeit, a bit polarizing, there is a lighthearted angle to this: if even one other person messes with your work, then you’ve amounted to something greater than yourself, and if somebody else like it, theres more like them out there – millions of them.
To achieve this, I believe it takes a great deal of sacrifice, collaboration, and passion, something that all of us are capable of or possess. I urge the reader to consider what they love the most, what they couldn’t live without, and go for it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://esvestudios.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/esvestudios/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrmYI7QVEjiXRyVElMR0i_A
