Acne Studios is highly influenced by its background, with founder and creative director, Johnny Johannson, encapsulating his interests in art, photography, architecture and contemporary culture within the brand. In 1996, the creative collective ‘ACNE’ was founded, focusing on advertising, graphic design and film production.
The acronym ‘ACNE’ was originally chosen to represent ‘Associated Computer Nerd Enterprises’; later this meaning was altered to ‘Ambition to Create Novel Expressions’, which describes both the brand’s initial founding, and their approach to each collection. The tale of the brand’s initial launch is well told:
“In 1997, Jonny Johansson created 100 pairs of raw denim jeans with red stitching, giving them away to friends and family.”
When Vogue Paris quickly picked up on the popularity of the jeans, the fashion line was expanded in response. In 2006, Acne Studios was created as its own entity, becoming a global fashion-house.
A Stockholm-based fashion brand, Acne Studios create ready-to-wear menswear, womenswear, accessories, footwear and denim, as well as publications and furniture. At the heart of the collections is a Scandinavian feel, stemming from Swedish art and culture, reflecting the brand’s multidisciplinary approach to design. A focus is certainly given to attention to detail, with the use of custom-made fabrics and an emphasis on sharp tailoring. The results are collections which are minimal and understated, yet cool and fresh, with a new way of thinking. Acne Studios is known for its contemporary style, tailored blazers and clean-cut denim, combining high fashion with street wear. Collaborations with representatives of the creative industry have been explored in order to create limited edition collections, such as a capsule collection with Liberty London and an art book and blue shirt line with photographer Lord Snowdon. Runway shows by Acne Studios are staged twice a year to display their women’s collections.
With retail stores around the world, including London, Paris, New York, Tokyo and Antwerp, Acne Studios is a well respected luxury fashion house. Their designs can also be found online on their own website, as well as through Harrods, Farfetch and Net-a-Porter.