ARKK Copenhagen enters the running category with its first performance shoe

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The last time we spoke with ARKK Copenhagen, the conversation centred around the brand’s strategic reset and how its newly established ARKK Lab was shaping the future of its sneaker universe. Since then, the Danish brand has continued to turn strategy into action.

Now, ARKK Copenhagen is taking another step forward with the launch of its first dedicated running shoe, a natural continuation of ARKK Active and the brand’s collaboration with Copenhagen-based running community HAV Runners.

Named Sprint X, the shoe has been developed with the ambition of making running more accessible. Rather than following the market’s obsession with maximum foam and exaggerated cushioning, ARKK Copenhagen has taken a different route, focusing instead on stability, control and versatility, equally suited for running sessions and everyday wear.

We spoke with Kasper Rasmussen, Co-founder and CEO of ARKK Copenhagen, about the new silhouette, the long-term ambitions behind it and why the timing feels right now.

“The response has been overwhelmingly positive.”

Kasper Rasmussen, CEO & Co-founder, ARKK Copenhagen

“We see this as a long-term commitment”

Kasper, why is now the right time to launch your first dedicated running shoe?

“It has been an ambition from the very beginning. Today, we have 10 years of experience, the right partnerships and the necessary know-how to do it properly.

At the same time, we’ve taken a clear position: instead of following the market’s focus on maximum ‘foam’, we’ve developed a shoe centred on stability and control. It makes running more accessible, especially for new runners and on varied terrain.”

When did work on the shoe begin?

“We started three years ago. When you develop your own soles and lasts, it takes time. Our ambition was to create a versatile, neutral running shoe for 5–10 km distances that also works in everyday life.

Sprint X is built as a hybrid, one shoe that combines performance and lifestyle, without compromising on stability.”

Hvordan er den blevet modtaget?

“Meget positivt. Vi har testet bredt, blandt andet hos Legs Studio, og feedbacken er klar: Stabiliteten og alsidigheden gør den nem at gå til. Det bekræfter os i, at vi har ramt rigtigt. Samtidig ser vi interesse fra samarbejdspartnere, hvilket understreger relevansen.”

Ser du løb som en ny kernekategori for ARKK Copenhagen?

“Ja, men med respekt. Det er en kategori, hvor teknologi og udvikling går hurtigt. For os er det en langsigtet investering, hvor vi bygger kompetencer og produkter op over tid. Sprint X er første skridt, ikke det sidste.”

Hvordan balancerer I mode, community og performance i samme brand?

“Det hænger naturligt sammen for os. Mode er vores fundament, og community – vores Friends of ARKK – er kernen i, hvordan vi bygger brandet.

Performance åbner en ny dimension, både i produkter og i vores aktiveringer. Med Sprint X og vores HAV Runners-univers kan vi nu tilbyde en samlet oplevelse, der går fra hverdag til aktivitet – med samme design-DNA og fokus på funktion.”