WHO WE ARE. WHAT WE DO.

CREATED AS AN ALTERNATIVE. DESIGNED TO INSPIRE. READY FOR ANYTHING.

ARKK Copenhagen began with a simple question: why wasn’t there a sneaker brand that synthesized modern streetwear style with clean, Nordic aesthetics? In early 2014, two lifelong friends, Kasper Høj Rasmussen and Thomas Refdahl, set out to answer this question—to find out if it was possible to push sneaker design forward by deconstructing the entire concept. Their quest for an answer led them to dream up a sneaker with a strikingly clean silhouette, rich in thoughtful design details, and featuring Nordic-inspired colorways—a go-anywhere, do-anything sneaker, versatile enough for every aspect of modern urban life.

Today, ARKK Copenhagen designs innovative sneakers that defy the status quo and challenge the perception of what a lifestyle sneaker can be. Rooted in our Scandinavian design heritage, inspired by architecture, and obsessed with details, ARKK seeks to change the footwear game by crafting premium kicks unlike anything else out there. With a focus on simplicity, precision detailing, and unique materiality, ARKK sneakers are designed to be the functional foundation for today’s modern streetwear style.


ARKK COPENHAGEN: MODERN LIFE IN SNEAKERS

DESIGN FIRST

We make sneakers, that’s what we do—plain and simple. In fact, it’s never simple. Before any pair of ARKK kicks hits the street, it goes through more than 18 months of research, design development, and materials testing. Why does it take so long? Because we want every sneaker we create to embody the spirit of Danish design, where timeless forms meet everyday functionality. From day one, every detail of every ARKK sneaker has been designed in house—right here in Copenhagen—from heel piece to toe cap, from our custom sole units to our branded lace tips.

OBSESSED WITH INNOVATION

The ARKK journey has always been rooted in curiosity. ARKK started by questioning what was possible and by challenging the status quo. Ever since then, we’ve never stopped dreaming, pushing, and questioning how we can make timeless kicks rich with innovative details and tech. It’s what drives us forward day in and day out and and what keeps us inspired during the dark Danish winters. Learn more about ARKK Innovation.

CUSTOM CRAFTSMANSHIP

Before any ARKK shoe is ready to touch your feet, it has already been touched (on average) by more than 200 pairs of human hands from around the world—from our Copenhagen-based design team to experienced materials experts around Europe to our skilled production partners in Vietnam—all working together to ensure quality in every stitch, consistency in every fit, and precision in every detail. We’re obsessed with the details at every stage of the process, because that’s what it takes to get better with each collection. That’s what it takes to change the game.

THE ARKK NAME & LOGO

Since the beginning, the ARKK journey has been a real-life adventure of overcoming the odds and pushing the boundaries of what is possible. What has guided us every step of the way has been a belief in ourselves, in our team, and a determination to keep moving forward no matter what. Our vision is to make the best modern streetwear sneakers in the world—and we won't stop until we've reached that goal. We're stubborn that way.
The name 'ARKK' points to our Nordic seafaring history, to a long tradition of Scandinavian mariners who have braved unknown waters and chased distant horizons in search of new worlds and new possibilities. Every time we stitch the minimalist ARKK 'A' onto a sneaker, we're inviting street-savvy sneakerheads and fearless risk-takers everywhere to join us on this journey of discovery.