Ahead of their collaboration, we took a road trip to the Lake District with Aries and New Balance, with an exclusive insight into the production process for their new sneakers. Check out the candid photo-diary and read the interview with Aries founder Sofia Prantera below...
Both trainers are excellent, nice work. What is the concept behind the sneakers?
We have been working with New Balance on this collaboration for almost 2 years now. The challenge was to create a shoe that would push the design, but still work within the manufacturer’s constraints, by mimicking the hi-tech silhouettes of the 90’s, and the futuristic technology of the past. The collaboration title UNBALANCED challenges the idea of perfection as success.
To accompany the shoe and apparel release we have collaborated with David Sims on a series of images and film around the UNBALANCED theme. The images will be deconstructed and projected within an immersive visual space which also features a pop-up shop.
We feel strongly we owe our audience to create something that goes beyond a banal commercial exercise so the goal was to achieve some kind of “balance” between commerce and experience.
"MY DAD'S COLLECTION OF RUNNING SHOES WERE THE STARTING POINT FOR THE MATERIALS AND COLOURS..."
On the trip you said you wanted to push New Balance into new areas of development. How was this received and can you explain these to us?
We were invited to visit the factory in Flimby, which was a really interesting trip. The manufacturing process resembles that of a British made traditional shoemaker more than a classical hi-tec trainer and the capabilities are quite restrictive.
It is precisely this, though, that makes the Flimby-made New Balance so desirable and different from other trainers, the product is unique. Therefore the challenge was to create a shoe that would push the design, but still work within the manufacturer’s constraints, by mimicking the hi-tech silhouettes of the ’90s, and the futuristic technology of the past.
My dad's collection of running shoes were the starting point for the materials and colours, with the pearlised white ones being based on a vintage trainer called Phantom.
What is your favourite sneaker of all time?
I am quite fickle with clothes, my likes and dislikes change on a daily basis...
48 hours on the road. What’s the one thing you must not forget?
Always wear a wetsuit when jumping in the lakes, they are really cold…
Cows or Sheep?
Sheeps :-)
"THE COLLABORATION TITLE 'UNBALANCED' CHALLENGES THE IDEA OF PERFECTION AS SUCCESS..."
