Calling all Vagabond Shoemaker fans, the beloved Swedish label has just released a new edition of the recurring premium capsule collection, Atelier by Vagabond – cue the Spring/Summer line. And for this, it features three aspiring Swedish artists, conveying their creative interpretation of the collection and the concept behind it.
There’s the sculptor Josefin Zachrisson, digital artist Hedvig Moberg, and abstract illustrator Anna Mörner, all of whom have interpreted the Atelier by Vagabond range through a specially commissioned artwork created just for Vagabond. It’s only natural then that the artists don the new collection, as well as their art pieces, which take center stage in the brand’s campaign, as shot by Frida Vega Salomonsson.
The full S/S 2021 Atelier by Vagabond collection consists of sleek, minimal, and wearable pieces (13 different styles, to be precise), from contemporary platforms to easy flats and comfortable pumps. When it comes to materiality, they feature leather lining and handmade outsoles, and as for color palette, expect thoroughly modern neutrals that are set against classic black for a timeless appeal too. Marie Nilsson Peterzén, Co-founder and Creative Director, tell us more about the brand and the new line.
Tell us about the Vagabond brand…
Ever since the start, the vision has been to be a global fashion brand within shoes for the fashion and quality-driven consumer. The brand Vagabond was first born in Sweden in 1973. During the ’80s, my husband Mats Nilsson and our collaborator Peter Lindström got busy learning about shoes and started to apply our design philosophy on-site, close to the best available skills within shoemaking in Portugal and Italy. After first being a pure men’s shoe brand, we consciously set focus to extend with female footwear fashion. This was accomplished through new unisex shoes and boots that the Scandinavian market had never seen before! In the ’90s, we explored new and bigger markets and added on further iconic shoe styles, which still today are important to archive references in the design process. In the beginning, a handful of people was running the show, but today we are about 500 skilled persons, all involved in the process of making great-looking quality shoes for the modern vagabond who cares about style and a sustainable way of life.
How would you sum up the brand in 3 words?
Contemporary, good quality, and great design.
What are the pillars of your brand?
We are shoemakers at heart and soul, and we want to make great-looking shoes for people in all corners of the world. And we believe that great design does not have to cost a fortune. Ever since the start, the art of shoemaking has been a part of our success story, and Vagabond is today one of Europe’s leading fashion shoe brands. Our own in-house design studio, which includes a full-size prototype production workshop, is located at the global head office in Varberg, Sweden. Here our ideas come alive, and we make careful decisions about shapes, materials, and constructions. We know that great design is a joint effort, several skills are involved in making that perfect shoe. In our studio, we are free to create and try all our ideas, even the crazy ones! When a last, an upper, and an outsole fit perfectly – this becomes our receipt. But we do not rest at this; we carefully follow our product through production, transportation, and distribution, always with sustainability as a main priority. Making sure that we partner up with the best people every step of the way and are shown in carefully selected marketplaces worldwide.
You’ve recently launched Atelier by Vagabond. Can you share more about it?
We just launched a new edition of the recurring premium capsule collection Atelier by Vagabond, which will be the first-ever Spring/Summer capsule collection. Atelier by Vagabond incorporates a small women’s collection, ranging from classic to fashion-forward with a premium price point, and sums up our love for everlasting style and quality. Showcasing our history & knowledge of the art of shoemaking, Atelier by Vagabond presents a premium product to a more perceptive customer while retaining the brand’s fashion-forward approach.
The Atelier by Vagabond SS21 collection consists of contemporary silhouettes with carefully selected materials, full leather lining, and man-made outsoles. It includes minimalistic everyday pieces in premium quality, ranging from platforms, flats, slip-ins, and pumps. With a strong focus on updated shapes and silhouettes, the color palette is neutral with off whites, blacks, beiges, and with an accent of pistachio.
Do you have a favorite piece from the collection?
This spring, I am very fond of flats and especially a style called Layla, which comes both as ballerinas and loafers. It is the perfect everyday style that is comfortable but still carries a certain minimalistic stylishness. From the Atelier by Vagabond collection, I love the new slip-on Gina in color sesame.
Where can we buy it?
Selected retailers in over 45 markets all around the world carry Vagabond shoes and accessories. In the US, we have several important retailers, such as Nordstrom and Urban Outfitters, that carry a selection of styles. At vagabond.com, you can find all our styles available for purchase with global shipping to 30+ countries.