LONDON — In a creative push around sustainability, sneaker brand Axel Arigato has teamed with fellow Swedish sound device maker Transparent on a limited run of speakers with outer shells made from white rubber sole units left over from the manufacturing process.
Per Brickstad, creative director of Transparent, said the collaboration was the result of the two companies’ shared passion for innovation and circularity.
“The outcome is a truly unique loudspeaker. The team had to question a lot of ‘rules’ to make this happen, and we had to develop an entirely new production method to make it work,” added Brickstad, who cofounded the brand with Magnus Wiberg and Martin Willers in 2011.
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Max Svärdh, creative director at Axel Arigato, said the project addressed some of the challenges surrounding footwear waste without compromising on sound quality, or the aesthetic of the sound device brand.
“We’ve long admired the work of Transparent, and it has been an eye-opening experience working with them to create a unique speaker made of upcycled sole waste. Both their brand and Axel Arigato believe that creative solutions can be executed to extend product lifecycle, using up-cycling techniques to create more sustainable, one-of-a-kind products,” said Svärdh.
Some 29 speakers costing 1,400 pounds each will be available online and in select Axel Arigato stores in London, Paris, Berlin and Stockholm beginning Monday.
Each set comes with a co-branded pair of gloves and a booklet that tracks the design process.
A hi-fi listening experience party will also be held at Axel Arigato’s London store on the evening of Dec. 6 to signal the brand’s deepening ties with music.
Earlier this month, the brand took its Nights series to Paris for two immersive club experiences in an abandoned office space in Montparnasse. A series of music talents, such as Ichon, Broodoo Ramses, Claude Emmanuelle, Nadia Keira, Pedro Winter, Niska, Andy 4000, Carla Genus, D33J and Sssoun performed for the guests well into the early hours.
The Nights series was introduced last year in Soho, London. At the time, the brand took over a mansion as part of a three-week-long series of parties to support established and emerging U.K. performers. In September, the brand took the franchise to Shanghai for one night of live DJs at System, a creative event space.
“Music and community are core pillars at Axel Arigato, and our Nights franchise champions this stance. We love bringing our global community together, from London to Shanghai. This time it was Paris’ turn. The French have always embraced us, from opening our store in the Marais, to our ongoing celebrations at Fête de la Musique. These nights celebrated culture and community and it was an honor to share this with the people of Paris,” added Svärdh.