Stockholm residents who are ardent online shoppers of Axel Arigato’s signature minimalist sneakers, clothing and small leather goods can now further enjoy its luxury retail experience by trying on the merchandise before deciding on making a purchase: this Swedish stellar brand is opening a pop-up store in the Bibliotekstan shopping district in Sweden’s capital this May.
Axel Arigato Gallery in the secluded Smålandsgatan in Stockholm’s Norrmalm spins off from the label’s success with its 2016 flagship brick and mortar boutique in London, the United Kingdom; continuing the latter’s emphasis of making its retail space as sleek as an art gallery’s. Its interior design oozes a similar Spartan chic while retaining some of the contemporary multistorey structure’s sizeable ground floor unit’s original rough edges.
The furnishings have an intentionally exaggerated shape to subtly heighten shoppers’ sense of visual adventure, with rows upon rows of plexiglass display tables and clothing racks on polished concrete floors surrounded by starkly white walls that are capped with a ceiling of exposed piping and wires – all in keeping with the minimal aesthetic of the brand; a deliberately clean space that winningly lets the label’s art stand out.
The defining new and different experience of shopping in its second fashion boutique is offered by the yellow accents liberally splashed throughout the retail space by the famous Swedish architect Christian Halleröd: from yellow-tinted expansive shop-front windows to furry ottomans similarly brightly hued; the warm notes to the understatement winsomely hinting at the premium suede and leather foot wear luxuriantly handmade in Portugal.
“For each location, I want to deliver a new experience for our customers. The surprise element for me is important,” said Axel Arigato’s creative director, Max Svärdh.
Offering the label’s full range of men’s and women’s sneakers, accessories and apparel, along with a selection of rare Japanese books, magazines and objects as homage to the initial inspiration that birthed its first footwear, and a carefully chosen range of additional brands, items and events for its loyal online following of underground culture youths looking for new ideas; the temporary retail space remains open till the end of the coming summer.
There is now one less reason to fly off to London or wherever there are luxury department stores Harvey Nichols and Le Bon Marché to try on some Axel Arigato. And one more reason to stay in Stockholm: record sales here could persuade the label’s head Albin Johansson to extend this pop-up’s presence to December!
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Information credits:
- “Christian Halleröd uses yellow accents for Axel Arigato Gallery in Stockholm” by Alice Morby for dezeen.com on 6 May 2017
- “Axel Arigato opens shop in Bibliotekstan” by www.guide2stockholm.com on 4 May 2017
- “Stockholm: Axel Arigato Gallery Opening” by adreas for superfuture.com on 3 May 2017
- “Axel Arigato’s Max Svärdh on How to Run a Globally Successful, Underground Sneaker Label Without Any Formal Training” on http://www.highsnobiety.com by Contributor in Sneakers on 25 April 2016
Photo credit: Axel Arigato
