Founded in 1996 in Stockholm, Sweden, Acne Studios began as part of the creative collective ACNE, originally an acronym for Associated Computer Nerd Enterprises, later rebranded to Ambition to Create Novel Expressions.
In November 2024, Acne Studios unveiled pop star Charli XCX as the face of its Spring/Summer 2025 campaign. Photographed by American artist Talia Chetrit in Los Angeles, the campaign offers an intimate glimpse into Charli’s dynamic world, merging her bold aesthetic with the brand’s innovative designs.
Designer Jonny Johansson, the creative director and co-founder of the Stockholm-based multidisciplinary fashion house Acne Studios, acknowledges the audience during the Acne Studios Womenswear Fall/Winter 2022/2023 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on March 2, 2022, in Paris, France (Credit: Alain Gil-Gonzalez / ABACA / INSTARimages)
Jonny Johansson is the most well-known figure associated with Acne Studios and serves as its creative director. The brand has gained international recognition for its distinctive style and contributions to contemporary fashion.
The Swedish fashion house specializes in men’s and women’s ready-to-wear fashion, footwear, accessories, and denim.
Peach-orange snow boots from Acne Studios featuring an all-over cloud-inspired print with a contrast platform sole
Where to Buy Acne Studios Shoes and How the Brand Is Positioned
You can buy heels, boots, sandals, and shoes from Acne Studios at Acne Studios, Mytheresa, and Nordstrom.
Acne Studios does not exclusively produce its items in China; it also sources from several other countries. They have suppliers in Europe, China, Turkey, South Korea, Morocco, and other countries.
The Swedish brand occupies a space that blurs the lines between high-end and contemporary luxury. It’s considered premium fashion, above mass-market brands but below established luxury giants.
A selection of chic heels, mules, and boots from Acne Studios, the Swedish fashion house known for its innovative and versatile designs (Credit: Shopbop)
Explore More About Acne Studios and Luxury Fashion Trends
For readers eager to explore more about Acne Studios and its influence on fashion, take a closer look at how Keira Knightley styled her Acne Studios jacket with timeless Dr. Martens boots.
Acne Studios has also been a go-to brand for other A-list celebrities. Model and actress Emily Ratajkowski turned heads in striking red Acne Studios boots, pairing them effortlessly with a flowing white dress for a standout look.
Similarly, reality star and beauty mogul Kylie Jenner showcased her bold style in a red Acne Studios dress with sleek bangs, proving the brand’s versatility in blending edgy sophistication with celebrity glamour.
Willow Smith channeled rock-star chic at Acne Studios’ Spring/Summer 2025 show, pairing a statement black fur coat and scarf with thigh-high socks, slingback heels, and daring ‘naked dressing’ pieces for an edgy, runway-inspired look (Credit: Laurent Zabulon / Abaca Press / INSTARimages)
Discover How Celebrities Are Styling Acne Studios
Acne Studios continues to dominate the fashion world with its versatile, statement-making designs. Explore how these celebrities styled the brand on red carpets and in casual outings:
- Edith Vivian Patricia Upton’s Effortless Acne Studios Style – Edith Vivian Patricia Upton highlights Acne Studios’ minimalist appeal with her effortlessly chic look, showcasing the brand’s understated elegance.
- Hailey Bieber’s Casual-Chic Acne Studios Outfits – Known for her off-duty model style, Hailey Bieber incorporates Acne Studios into her wardrobe, proving how the brand transforms casual outfits into polished, laid-back sophistication.
- Anya Taylor-Joy’s Bold Acne Studios Footwear – During the Furiosa press tour, Anya Taylor-Joy turned heads with daring styling choices, wearing bold strappy heels and thigh-high boots from Acne Studios.
- Hunter Schafer’s Edgy Acne Studios Look at Cuckoo Premiere – At the Cuckoo premiere in Berlin, Hunter Schafer showcased Acne Studios’ edgy and refined designs, perfectly blending high fashion with a modern twist for a standout appearance.
If you’re a fan of premium denim, don’t miss our roundup of the most expensive jeans brands, where Acne Studios’ luxury denim takes center stage.
While the 2025 campaign with Charli XCX highlights the brand’s current cultural dominance, Acne Studios has been a disruptor in the footwear space for over a decade.
This commitment to ‘novel expressions’ is best captured by their Spring 2010 collection, which famously drew inspiration from an unlikely source: rusty nails.
Looking back at these archival pieces, the Acne ‘Gemini’ bootie and ‘Asteria’ pump remain masterclasses in avant-garde design:
Acne ‘Gemini’ Ankle Booties
Acne ‘Asteria’ Pumps
From a front-facing perspective, these silhouettes appear classic and understated, as booties and pumps. However, the profile view reveals the ‘Rusty Nail’ signature—a jarring, industrial contrast to the soft leather.
Beyond the visual shock, the design offers a rare level of customization: the three spike heels are detachable. While a single spike provides a more traditional stiletto feel, the triple-nail configuration creates an aggressive, architectural look that demands a seasoned stiletto aficionado’s poise.
Acne Studios’ avant-garde “Rusty Nail” heels feature detachable spike stilettos and a striking mix of tan suede and black leather for an industrial, sculptural finish
ACNE ‘Gemini’ Suede Leather Sandal Booties Rusted Nail Heels
From groundbreaking designs like the edgy ‘rusty nail’ shoes that captured attention in 2010 to their latest collaboration with Charli XCX for the Spring/Summer 2025 campaign, Acne Studios continues to blend its rich history of bold creativity with modern, trendsetting innovation.
Acne Studios Within Sweden’s Modern Footwear Movement
Sweden’s influence on contemporary footwear extends well beyond Acne Studios. While Jonny Johansson’s label helped redefine avant-garde luxury in the 2010s, other Swedish brands have shaped distinct corners of the shoe market.
Reese Witherspoon’s Swedish Hasbeens platform sandals spotlight the brand’s revival of retro wooden clogs, blending sustainability with nostalgic 1970s silhouettes. Meanwhile, Vagabond Shoemakers’ minimalist leather combat boots demonstrate the label’s commitment to clean Scandinavian lines and everyday wearability.
Sweden’s broader fashion ecosystem also includes Fjällräven’s cult-favorite outdoor jackets and backpacks and H&M’s celebrity-driven high-street collaborations, reinforcing the country’s global impact on both accessible and premium design.
Together, these brands illustrate the spectrum of Swedish fashion — from functional heritage craftsmanship to experimental runway statements — a continuum Acne Studios continues to push forward through bold footwear innovation.