Acne Studios Presents A Collaboration With Swedish Heritage Brand Kero

For Men’s FW22, Acne Studios first collaborated with Kero to create a capsule footwear collection. A Swedish heritage brand founded in 1929, Kero is based in Sattajärvi in Lapland. Known for their Sami ‘beak’ shoe design and unique craftsmanship, using calf hide and natural tanning process.

Acne Studios’ own take on the famous ‘beak’ shoe was informed by the language of clothing that evolved in nomadic communities – how a style emerges with its own logic. Jonny Johansson, creative director of Acne Studios, thought especially about the communities in northern Sweden near where he grew up and the desire for roots in local heritage.

“When I was growing up, my mum thought Kero shoes were really cool, so she made me wear them. I hated them at the time and was one of the only kids wearing them at school. Now that I’m older, I wanted to see if I could bring them into the Acne Studios world and play with this idea of heritage and roots,” says Jonny Johansson.

Reimagined to a slightly higher and larger form with a tall shearling footbed modification on the sole for added comfort. The Acne Studios collaboration makes the traditional Kero boot with a more distinctive beak in a slip-on, calf-high boot or knee-high boot, for both men and women. Made in Sweden, they come in either black, white or cognac brown. The white versions are studded with jewelled embellishments.

The Acne Studios x Kero capsule is also showcased as part of the Acne People content series, in which creative friends interact with seasonal collections bringing their individual style to the conversation. Those photographed include musicians and artists Bakar, Alewya, Bladee, Ellie Rowsell from Wolf Alice and Wolf Gillespie.

The Acne Studios and Kero collaboration will be available in Acne Studios stores worldwide and online at acnestudios.com from 13 October.