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Axel Arigato Podcast
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From musician to author, poet to painter, Jordan Stephens has spent the past decade proving that he can do pretty much everything. Finding fame at the tender age of 18 as one half of chart-topping band Rizzle Kicks, Jordan reflects on how those formative years influences his solo projects, what the art of reinventing oneself creatively unlocks and the liberating affect playing a drag queen on film had on his masculinity. | |||
THE 2022 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
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Our impact matters. Each year we measure and release our annual sustainability report, which enables us to make better decisions for the future. The 2022 sustainability report also provides our customer with a practical view of where we’re at today, and the commitments we’re making for a better tomorrow. Transparency and acknowledgement is our foundation for change, which we are committed to continuously reviewing and improving on year after year.
Our core principle is to grow, sustainably. Which means embedding sustainability into every level of the business. During 2022 we made some positive steps towards this goal by:
Converting all of our clothing bags to 100% recycled LDPE. This change has reduced our use of virgin plastic by 5.6 tonnes in only 6 months.
Held 46 sneaker cleaning events in 5 cities to help prolong the life of our sneakers
Reducing our scope 1-2 emission per revenue by 25% since 2020
Launched our first-ever PETA approved vegan sneaker
The 2022 sustainability report will provide further detail to the above initiatives, as well as share more core information around our climate objectives and our commitments to being accountable to putting the planet first.
Let's Get Digital
Berlin-based artist and 3D digital designer Christine Papst added her expert flare to our store in celebration of Gallery Weekend. The bespoke art projection runs for a limited time only. We sat down with Christine to ask her some burning questions…
What was your thought process behind creating this piece?
In this work I wanted to blur the line between the real and the digital world, to create a surreal perception for the viewer.
How does it work and how would you best describe the digital creative process, for someone who is completely new to the field?
First, I used a photo of the AXEL ARIGATO store in Berlin and recreated it in a 3D photo composition. Then I used photogrammetry to create 3D models of the sneakers and textures and started to animate the movements and shapes of the assets in 3D space.
How do you stay up to date with the latest trends in digital art?
There are several aspects that keep me up to date. One important point is the exchange with other creatives working in the large field of digital art, as well as via social media, tutorials and artist talks.
Name your favourite 5-song playlist when working?
Sega Bodega - Effeminacy
Shygirl - Asher Wolfe
Massive Attack, Young Fathers - Voodoo In My Blood
Kelvin Krash, COUCOU CHLOE - Thief in the Night
Joy Orbison, Infinite Coles, Mansur Brown - Burn
What kind of change do you wish to inspire within the digital industry?
In the digital industry, many things are developing very quickly. New programs, new functions and new updates are constantly being added. On the one hand, that's really great and a huge playground, but on the other hand, it also creates a lot of pressure to have to master everything. That's why I would like to see a change in thinking, especially for beginners, that you don't have to be a pro in all the different programs and digital areas at the same time.
What inspires you? How do you approach a new project?
On the one hand, when I learn new digital tools or techniques and start experimenting, I often have many new ideas. On the other hand, if I want to find a certain idea, I have to step away from the keyboard and start daydreaming about the project while being at the gym or cooking or something like that.
Axel Arigato For Mulberry Launch Party
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Berlin Nightlife Hacks With Harriet Shepherd
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To celebrate our Berlin store opening, we knew just the person to ask for the ultimate nightlife hacks in the city. Harriet Shepherd, Editorial Director at INDIE Magazine, shares her 5 must-visit bars and restaurants.
Rote Rose, Adalbertstraße 90, 10997 Berlin, Germany
The dive bar to end all dive bars. Super local spot guaranteed to deliver weird and wonderful characters and utterly unhinged nights you’ll be talking about for years to come. Throw some Britney on the jukebox to really rile up the bartenders, and don’t order anything other than a beer or a gin and tonic.
Victoria Bar, Potsdamer Str. 102, 10785 Berlin, Germany
West Berlin at its finest. The closest thing you’ll get to London’s Soho in Berlin, complete with a distinct older Deutsch gay art crowd twist. Go for happy hour and accidentally end up getting kicked to the curb when it closes at 4am.
Sardinen Bar, Grunewaldstraße 79, 10823 Berlin, Germany
Does what it says on the tin, quite literally: Practically the only thing on the menu is cans of fish. Love the unpretentiousness of this place, which is conveniently close to my Schöneberg office.
Dashi Diner, Invalidenstraße 112, 10115 Berlin, Germany
The newest addition to the list: the most beautiful Asian-style diner in Mitte serving brioche sandwiches and szechuan fries. The best place I know for lunch or brunch by a country mile.
Marktlokal, Pücklerstraße 34, 10997 Berlin, Germany
Google describes it as a “trendy restaurant featuring upscale, area-sourced cuisine amid a wood-paneled interior” and I guess that just about sums it up. The food is fab and local (with bigger portion sizes than your average “small plates” restaurant), drinks are flowing, and the atmos is cute.
One Million Reasons To Party
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Axel Arigato Lands In Berlin With A Bang
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Considered by many to be the birthplace of subculture and the land parties never end, Berlin takes the cake on ‘cool’. So why not open our very first store in Germany in the capital we thought? Sure, it’s pretty grey, industrial, brutal in architecture (and even vibe at times) but our physical spaces exist both to serve and inspire - so Axel Arigato will bring its unique energy to the city.
Located in the heart of Berlin’s historic Mitte district, Axel Arigato has transformed a former institutional restaurant into an immersive brand experience. The space was co-designed in partnership with the architecture studio, Hallerod, with whom the brand has had a longstanding relationship.
Transforming the previous legacy of the space into a completely new retail environment is one that has granted the brand a blank canvas for pushing the visual direction of its retail experiences even further, whilst honing its distinctive aesthetic.
“Our stores are based on what we really crave when we enter physical spaces: peaceful wandering, stimulation, and a strong personal story. We don’t have a McDonald’s approach where each store looks the same. We treat them as contemporary galleries, and focus less on the transactional element, whilst staying true to our blueprint that keeps coming back in new shapes and materials”. - Max Svärdh, Creative Director
So if you’re a local Berliner or passing through, add our new store to your list of things to see.
Address
AXEL ARIGATO
Neue Schönhauser Strasse 1 10178 Berlin
Germany
PHOTO DIARY: BERLIN 12 HOUR RAVE
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Safe to say we’re feeling the love (and the hangover) from partying with you all in Berlin.
When the store opening after party wrapped up, we headed to the after-after party at Alte Münze for a 12 hour rave with a jam packed lineup of DJs and artists. Music was brought to you by the wondrous likes of Antonia XM, Blawan, Bloomfeld, DJ Fuckoff, Juba and Raven.
Berlin local and cool girl about town Sayuri documented the night on a disposable camera in true Y2K style - so whether you can remember the night or not, here’s some highlights from the rave!