Ten years in, Axel Arigato has found its footing. The Scandi set-up has been the topic of discourse in Europe's coolest cliques for quite a few years now, but talk doesn't necessarily amount to sales. A shift is happening, though.
A newfound enthusiasm for Axel Arigato footwear has been building since the launch of the Mulberry collaboration in spring 2023. Then, earlier this year, lent a helping hand – well, foot – by wearing its Dice Los for his publicised exits out of the Duke of York Theatre post-Romeo & Juliet. Just last week, once-Dior collaborator Kenny Scharf joined in on the fun (see: the artist's adaptation of its ).
Today, it has officially announced the launch of its first sneaker co-designed by experimental German fashion label GMBH. And..
. we reckon it's Arigato's best yet. With GMBH, the footwear outfit has amalgamated aesthetics from different pockets of time: a chainmail-inspired mesh inspired by medieval armour has been invented to contrast against the shiny, sci-fi-y patent leather panelling on the upper that sits atop a sole infused with tried-and-tested technology.
In silver “metallic silver”, the joint effort shines (in both senses!), but there's a “patent black” edition for the low(er)-key. Recognise the shoe? You must be very tapped in. At the GMBH SS25 runway show put on during Berlin Fashion Week back in July, select models sported the shoes with the new-season styles.
Admittedly, we never expected them to be revealed as Arigatos – as, .