Axel Arigato has partnered with Californian artist Kenny Scharf on a capsule collection.
Scharf’s hallucinogenic cartoons — smirking smiley faces, a psychedelic American flag, ghoulish apparitions in poppy shades of green, purple and fuchsia — are printed across the nine-piece collection, which includes sweatshirts, sneakers, T-shirts and a bomber jacket.
The collection’s laid-back feel lends itself to those who want to “wear your art every day,” as the artist said of the collection.
The launch comes on the heels of Axel Arigato’s first U.S. store, which opened on Sept. 20 in New York. Located in SoHo, the 1,130-square-foot space showcases the 10-year-old Swedish footwear brand’s bestselling sneakers, including the Dice, Area and Clean 90 models, as well as select ready-to-wear pieces.
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“We have a vision of being truly established in the U.S., but we are laser-focused on New York right now,” the brand’s chief executive officer, Albin Johansson, told WWD sister publication FN in an interview ahead of the store’s opening.
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“We are not interested in opening this store and moving on right away to a new city to open another store,” he said, adding, “We are taking our time to build our roots in the community with a steady series of events this month and throughout the rest of the year.”
To herald the collection, the New York store will host an in-store launch event tonight. The vinyl listening experience, “The Sounds of Kenny,” will highlight the music Scharf listens to when creating his artwork.
“As we launch our first store in New York, working with legendary American artist Kenny Scharf feels symbiotic,” said Jens Werner, Axel Arigato’s creative director.
“We’re thrilled to be able to work with such incredible artwork — continuing our commitment to unique and interesting collaborations that bring together our passions of fashion, art and design,” he continued.
The capsule prices range from $40 for a pair of socks to $465 for a bomber jacket, and is available to purchase in select stores and at axelarigato.com.