CAT MEETS ARIGATO words Andrea Ward - images courtesy of CAT at Gung Ho
Iconic contemporary footwear label, Axel Arigato teams up with workwear giant CAT Footwear for a collaboration that brings together the best of both worlds. The two brands, which sit on different ends of the footwear sphere, get together for a collab that is unconventional yet stunning and perfectly executed. Axel is known for its sleek clean-cool aesthetic while CAT has been worldly recognisable for its highly durable and functional boots. Recently, CAT has released a revamped series of their INTRUDER trainers that appeal for the younger sneaker-crazy consumer and has hit the market with a range of "bad-ass" cool kickers.
The unprecedented collaboration showcases the perfect combination of workwear with a modern take on the existing structure from the Excelsior. This hybrid sneaker brings together high-performance and style fitting smoothly into the current urban market. The unisex collection comes in a three colourway infusing CAT's durability and comfortability with Arigato's Scandinavian style for a chunky yet sleek product. Cat has also brought to the table its premium leather, suede, and mesh paired with the hiking cord-style laces and reflective webbing while Arigato adds its craftsmanship with the use of fine premium Italian fabrics.
The end result is a beautiful and extra cool chunky silhouette presenting durability, comfort, strength and power, creating impact and without becoming too serious. Axel Arigato's design team has looked into CAT's archives to curate the chunky outsole silhouette and was refined by Axel's clean design approach. In their press release, Max Svärdh, Creative Director and Co-founder of Axel Arigato, has stated; “Axel Arigato has reworked the archived silhouette by offering a contemporary twist on the industrial silhouette. With Cat Footwear being one of the most recognisable industrial brands in the world. It’s an unlikely pairing which makes it interesting for us.”
For many, this could've been a very unlikely collaboration to happen and yet, the partnership between these two brands has resulted in a sole drawn from the archives, the Intruder, and curated by Cat Footwear, being accompanied with finishing details and design of the upper formed by Axel Arigato. The result: kickers every sneaker-enthusiast will LOVE!
The 3-piece collection will launch at axelarigato.com and Axel stores worldwide on 6th of December and retails at £210.
