Inspirations — Erik Schedin
Although we celebrate his overal tasteful vision and have been following Erik Schedin since the beginning of Another Something & Company, the Swedish designer is most known for his iconic minimalist sneaker, of which the first sketch was made in his final year at Beckmans College of Design in Stockholm. Last year he, together with Comme des Garçons Shirt, celebrated the 10 year existence of his sneaker with a special edition, which recently was also released in a black colorway. But there was much more we loved in these last years, in which Erik ran one of the most exciting and elegant minimal webstores to be found on the internet. He for instance collaborated with Tegnässkidan AB to re-create their classical ski model Rajd and Schedin was the first one to reintroduce the first ever designed Gore-Tex boot, the Danner Light to the European market. We now ask Erik what has been inspirational for him in all these years in which he consistently was an inspiration for us.
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Please introduce yourself
My name is Erik Schedin, I’m a 35 year old Sweden-based designer. In 2004, while at my final year at Beckmans College of Design in Stockholm, I designed what is considered to be the first of their kind – a minimal leather sneaker, no logos or labels, and perforated lining, available in white and black color ways. Launched alongside my site, the iconic sneakers came to life in 2008. The sneakers quickly caught the attention from the likes of Michael Williams of A Continuous Lean as well as the buyers of Dover Street Market London, Dover Street Market Ginza and Swedish retailer Pancho and Lefty. To celebrate the original model’s 10th anniversary, I teamed up with Comme des Garçons Shirt in January 2014 to re-release the white leather model with unique added graphics. Shortly after, an inverted color-way option was released, using black as the primary color of choice for the low-rise model with white graphics.
Who is the most inspiring person in history and why?
If speaking of well-dressed persons I would say; Edward VIII (Prince of Wales), Steve McQueen and Sven-Bertil Taube (Swedish icon).
Who is the most inspiring person in your life and why?
My wife Frida and my two daughters Agnes and Lily.
Who do you consider the most inspiring photographer?
Don’t know, I actually don’t have any favorite photographers.
And the photograph that will always stay in your mind?
A pre-match photo from the 1930´s of my grandfather who was a college boxer.
Who for you is the most inspiring artist?
I mostly listen to older stuff so I would say Ozzy Osbourne in the 70’s.
And what is the most inspiring music?
Black Sabbath from the same era. Even though I listen to kind of everything, this is something I always go back to.
The thing you never go without?
My iPhone.
Your favorite city?
Where I live, Stockholm.
Your favorite hideout?
My country house in the archipelago of Stockholm.
The website you often check?
Google.
The books on your coffee table?
Something with a nice cover that hasn’t really been opened.
The books on your bedside table?
A pile of my daughters children´s books.
What is your dream?
To be able to continue living my life as I live it today.
What would you do if you could start all over again?
I wouldn’t have worried that much. Otherwise I would have done exactly the same.
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Portrayed with the interview are images of Erik’s immaculate sneaker, in its original form and the most recent white and black Comme des Garçons Shirt 10-year-celebration editions, which we wrote about when they were released at the beginning of this year.
For more information and to buy Erik’s sneakers online see here.