Swedish lifestyle brand Axel Arigato has unveiled a new sneaker, combining design cues from retro basketball and skate culture. Boasting a US-centric aesthetic through a minimalistic Scandi lens, the Area sneaker—which is set to play major role in the label’s upcoming collection—features a number of nostalgic references as a homage to the ‘90s kids of today.
Inspired by authentic connections forged by people on and off the court, the Area Lo has been handmade in Portugal from a combination of leather and recycled polyester that’s produced using recycled PET bottles. Initially arriving in a clean white leather colourway, with contrasting coloured piping and accents, the silhouette is set on expanded rubber soles and features perforations along with Arigato discreetly printed across the sidewall in gold.
Speaking on the influences behind the new crep, Max Svardh, Axel Arigato’s creative director and co-founder, said: “The ‘90s has influenced my design approach and references for a long time now. The American TV shows I watched as a kid, the sense of community I felt the country had all the way from Sweden—a lot these things went into the concept of the Area Sneaker.”
Get a closer look at the Area Lo in the shots below. You can cop the Area Low sneaker now via the Axel Arigato webstore.
