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To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Beyond Store, Nike SB is partnering with a Nordic retailer for the first time. Based in Jyväskylä, Finland, the streetwear and skate shop has created a Dunk High that goes far beyond a simple aesthetic exercise. Conceived by Juho Haapala, CEO of Beyond, and art director Janne-Juhani Hyvärinen, this sneaker draws direct inspiration from the legacy of architect and designer Alvar Aalto, a major figure in Finnish modernism. Its launch begins on July 8 in Jyväskylä, followed by a presentation in Helsinki and a global release later in the month.
The originality of the project lies in the story it tells. The collaboration draws a parallel between the famous organic-shaped swimming pools designed by Aalto for Villa Mairea in 1939 and the emergence of modern skateboarding in California. Inspired by this architecture, landscape architect Thomas Church later incorporated these free-flowing lines into several American residences. When California pools were drained during the drought of the 1970s, their curves became a playground for a generation of skaters, giving birth to a new way to ride.
This history is reflected in every detail of the sneaker. True to Alvar Aalto's minimalism, the Beyond Dunk features a clean white upper, accented by a birch-colored Swoosh that recalls the designer's iconic furniture. The outsole evokes the red brick omnipresent in his architecture, while the heel incorporates the blue of the ceramic tiles found on several of his buildings. Developed in collaboration with the Alvar Aalto Foundation, the shoe faithfully respects the creator's world, at a time when several of his works are currently being considered for UNESCO World Heritage status.
Beyond the sneaker itself, this collaboration illustrates an evolution in Nike SB projects, which are increasingly focused on conveying cultural heritage. By connecting architecture, design history, and skate culture, Beyond and Nike demonstrate that a shoe can become a true medium for storytelling. This approach also confirms the growing role of independent boutiques in the industry's most ambitious collaborations, as they are capable of bringing a local vision and cultural depth rarely achieved in the sneaker world.
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Beyond Store, Nike SB is partnering with a Nordic retailer for the first time. Based in Jyväskylä, Finland, the streetwear and skate shop has created a Dunk High that goes far beyond a simple aesthetic exercise. Conceived by Juho Haapala, CEO of Beyond, and art director Janne-Juhani Hyvärinen, this sneaker draws direct inspiration from the legacy of architect and designer Alvar Aalto, a major figure in Finnish modernism. Its launch begins on July 8 in Jyväskylä, followed by a presentation in Helsinki and a global release later in the month.
The originality of the project lies in the story it tells. The collaboration draws a parallel between the famous organic-shaped swimming pools designed by Aalto for Villa Mairea in 1939 and the emergence of modern skateboarding in California. Inspired by this architecture, landscape architect Thomas Church later incorporated these free-flowing lines into several American residences. When California pools were drained during the drought of the 1970s, their curves became a playground for a generation of skaters, giving birth to a new way to ride.
This history is reflected in every detail of the sneaker. True to Alvar Aalto's minimalism, the Beyond Dunk features a clean white upper, accented by a birch-colored Swoosh that recalls the designer's iconic furniture. The outsole evokes the red brick omnipresent in his architecture, while the heel incorporates the blue of the ceramic tiles found on several of his buildings. Developed in collaboration with the Alvar Aalto Foundation, the shoe faithfully respects the creator's world, at a time when several of his works are currently being considered for UNESCO World Heritage status.
Beyond the sneaker itself, this collaboration illustrates an evolution in Nike SB projects, which are increasingly focused on conveying cultural heritage. By connecting architecture, design history, and skate culture, Beyond and Nike demonstrate that a shoe can become a true medium for storytelling. This approach also confirms the growing role of independent boutiques in the industry's most ambitious collaborations, as they are capable of bringing a local vision and cultural depth rarely achieved in the sneaker world.
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Beyond Store, Nike SB is partnering with a Nordic retailer for the first time. Based in Jyväskylä, Finland, the streetwear and skate shop has created a Dunk High that goes far beyond a simple aesthetic exercise. Conceived by Juho Haapala, CEO of Beyond, and art director Janne-Juhani Hyvärinen, this sneaker draws direct inspiration from the legacy of architect and designer Alvar Aalto, a major figure in Finnish modernism. Its launch begins on July 8 in Jyväskylä, followed by a presentation in Helsinki and a global release later in the month.
The originality of the project lies in the story it tells. The collaboration draws a parallel between the famous organic-shaped swimming pools designed by Aalto for Villa Mairea in 1939 and the emergence of modern skateboarding in California. Inspired by this architecture, landscape architect Thomas Church later incorporated these free-flowing lines into several American residences. When California pools were drained during the drought of the 1970s, their curves became a playground for a generation of skaters, giving birth to a new way to ride.
This history is reflected in every detail of the sneaker. True to Alvar Aalto's minimalism, the Beyond Dunk features a clean white upper, accented by a birch-colored Swoosh that recalls the designer's iconic furniture. The outsole evokes the red brick omnipresent in his architecture, while the heel incorporates the blue of the ceramic tiles found on several of his buildings. Developed in collaboration with the Alvar Aalto Foundation, the shoe faithfully respects the creator's world, at a time when several of his works are currently being considered for UNESCO World Heritage status.
Beyond the sneaker itself, this collaboration illustrates an evolution in Nike SB projects, which are increasingly focused on conveying cultural heritage. By connecting architecture, design history, and skate culture, Beyond and Nike demonstrate that a shoe can become a true medium for storytelling. This approach also confirms the growing role of independent boutiques in the industry's most ambitious collaborations, as they are capable of bringing a local vision and cultural depth rarely achieved in the sneaker world.