Camper appoints Achilles Ion Gabriel as creative director of CamperLab

Spanish company Camper has named Achilles Ion Gabriel as the new creative director of CamperLab following the departure of French designer Romain Kremer earlier this month.

Finnish-born, Paris-based Achilles Ion Gabriel will become responsible for the CamperLab brand globally. He will lead the design team and define the creative strategy for all communications and stores worldwide. His first collection will launch in January as part of the brand’s Autumn Winter 2020 offering.

“Achilles is one of the most talented shoe designers of our time. I have always admired his work, and we are excited to start this new adventure together, said Miguel Fluxà Ortí, chief executive officer of Camper, in a statement.

The designer, who launched his eponymous brand in 2012, said that he was looking forward to “the creative design possibilities” the role has to offer, and praised Camper’s design and shoemaking heritage.

CamperLab is a sub-brand of Camper launched in 2015. It focuses on creating innovative designs, and includes a limited selection of new lines as well as more iconic ranges that reimagine the aesthetic codes of the Spanish label. The sub-brand underwent a review two years ago, leaving it with three stores in Paris, London and New York whilst the remaining eleven shops became mainline locations. But with Achilles Ion Gabriel bringing a breath of fresh air, CamperLab seems to be primed for a new beginning.

Founded in 1975 and headquartered in Mallorca, footwear brand Camper has a presence in nearly 40 countries through 400 stores. Its latest available accounts show that revenue reached 204.8 million euros in the 2013 financial year.

Camper appoints Achilles Ion Gabriel as creative director of CamperLab

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