ERIS – AXEL ARIGATO LAUNCHES NEW SNEAKER AND CAMPAIGN CHAMPIONING FEMALE INDIVIDUALITY AND CREATIVE SELF-EXPRESSION

Axel Arigato introduces Eris, a bold new unisex sneaker designed for those who embrace individuality and creative self-expression. As the brand's headline sneaker launch of the year, it follows a semester of new footwear releases, specifically the Slow and Tact Runners, which re-packaged a decade of design that in turn paved the way to the Eris silhouette.

Symbolic in name, Eris is a lifestyle statement for those who defy stylistic convention and reject being boxed in. It is made for the global, culturally curious, and creatively driven individual, with this spirit artistically imbued into the design and fabrications of Axel Arigato's most innovative sneaker to date.

Eris's mid-profile silhouette is comprised of a series of interlocking suede panels that sweep across the upper in fluid, sculptural curves, and are hand-distressed to add textural depth and individual character to every sneaker. These contoured components are highlighted with tonal stitching, contrast nylon ribbing, and a debossed sandpaper print to emphasise shape, form, and texture.

Further detailing comes from dipped laces that weave through a double tongue, which incorporates a branded gel bubble. Subtle Axel Arigato logos are also found across the toe box and via embossing on the rear of the sole unit. The sole itself is a statement of craft, seamlessly fused from two outsole forms to give the impression of a single melting unit.

Whilst previous sneaker launches have celebrated the energy of youth in their campaigns, Axel Arigato's Creative Director Jens Werner channels this vitality into a grittier and more mature sense of tenacity and self. Each debut colourway is affixed to one of three female musicians as part of a global campaign, known for their experimental and genre-blending approach to music.

Yellow is embodied by Dutch-English artist Bea, whose atmospheric, introspective, and emotionally textured sound is punctuated with ethereal vocals in unconventional song structures.

Charcoal is evoked by Parisian musician, model, and photographer Camille Jansen. Her sonic landscape is percussive and acoustic, often telling dreamlike stories of resilience and self-discovery.

Blue is epitomised by American musician Ana Roxanne, whose immersive and meditative sound comprises layered vocals, analogue synthesisers, and field recordings that explore both deeply personal and universal themes.

The Eris campaign was lensed by two female creatives: photographer Georgia Davey Smith and Motion Director Juana Wein, whose refined, moody, and modern aesthetics were a natural fit for telling the story of Eris. The audience is invited to step into the “psychological green room” of these three creatives a space rarely seen. Through a series of dream-like tableaux, they witness moments of preparation, ritual, and performance somewhere between the curated and the candid; the fumbling, beautiful in-between. These stories unfold like movements in a score, gradually forming a layered portrait of the Eris Woman: raw, unfiltered, and empowered.

Long-term artistic collaborator Jon Buck helped bring these scenes to life, working with the in-house teams to create bespoke, costume-like pieces and sculptural curiosities that enhance the narrative of those wearing or interacting with them. Among these are a hand-molded rubber blazer, a cement bomber jacket, and a towering mold that serves as a box from which each talent springs. Playing on feminine tropes of the dollhouse and gendered disempowerment, this metaphorical emancipation serves to shatter dated and oppressive restraints.
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The campaign culminates with the Eris event series a global three-part collection of intimate, high-impact experiences designed to connect the behind-the-scenes visuals of the campaign into memorable real-world moments.

​"Eris has become a symbol of modern defiance and unapologetic self-expression. It tells a beautifully complex story without words — where design melts into meaning, and the shoe speaks the raw, chaotic truth of identity and emotion. Collaborating with the brilliant talents Bea, Camille Jansen, and Ana Roxanne brought this spirit to life, offering a rare glimpse into the intimate, often unseen moments of anticipation, creation, and power that inform the creative journey." – Jens Werner, Creative Director, Axel Arigato
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The three debut colourways, charcoal, yellow, and blue, ​ will be available in all Axel Arigato stores and priced at €330 / £310 / $435 on Wednesday 28th May. A second drop with men's sizing and new colourways will debut on June 11th.

About us:

Founded in Sweden in 2014, Axel Arigato is intrinsically grounded in culture, community, and craft. Driven by curiosity, the brand has consistently connected its approach to the rhythm of what is happening in the wider world, looking to contemporary society for both purpose and inspiration.

It presents diverse collections of elevated and wearable footwear and ready-to-wear, fusing together Scandinavian minimalism with unexpected, contemporary design. The brand has ten physical stores in six countries, as well as a network of over 250 wholesale partners and retail concessions.

Axel Arigato is committed to fostering connections beyond the conventions of commerce – creating global real-world moments of curiosity, community, and entertainment.

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