zomer is the brainchild of designer Danial Aitouganov and stylist Imruh Asha, a brand that experiments with sculptural shapes and rich textures. Born out of a need for self-expression, much like art, that is one of the brand’s main inspirations. “zomer”, which means "summer" in Dutch, aims to bring warmth and energy, just like the season itself.
Rooted in a playful yet sophisticated aesthetic, zomer brings a fresh perspective to ready-to-wear, with each collection offering a masterclass in craftsmanship and artistic flair. With their participation at the 2025 LVMH Prize, as finalists, zomer is firmly planting itself as a rising force in the global fashion arena.
The KARHU by zomer collaboration is a study in duality—where heritage meets experimentation, precision meets play, and two perspectives merge into one. The Mestari Kesä (Kesä means summer in Finnish) takes an archival KARHU silhouette and reinterprets it through zomer’s bold, expressive lens. Its split-colour design embodies this balance, a visual representation of contrast and coexistence. Through material, form, and colour, this partnership challenges conventions while staying rooted in craftsmanship, proving that the best design happens in the space between opposites.
For this upcoming collaboration we wanted to strip down to the essentials, the shoes that we walk on. Creating new shapes by using body movement, skin and the shoe. Shaping the body into something raw, fluid, and precise all at once.
Through the lens of Dan Tobin Smith and his technical approach to photography, the stills hold movement in a tight grip. Professional dancers, wearing nothing but sneakers, twist, and fold into fleeting shapes. The result is a frozen frame that contains with leftover energy, the echo of bodies in motion. In the final photograph, we can anticipate the before and after of the shot, which is also part of the final conceptual construction of the shoot, perceive movement before stillness.
A series of mandalas created by bodies, rigid structures formed by organic components that lose their human shape in the collective, where the shoes are the only piece that reveals the beginning, or the end, of the bodies. This idea reflects the intersection between form and function, where the human body and its movement serve as the foundation and final expression of creativity.
Heritage in Motion
This collaboration is a dialogue between past and present—where KARHU’s legacy of Finnish craftsmanship meets zomer’s instinct for pushing boundaries. The Mestari Kesä reimagines an archival classic, proving that heritage is never static but always in motion.
Form Follows Play
zomer’s approach to design is rooted in curiosity and experimentation, while KARHU’s DNA is built on performance and precision. Together, they create something unexpected—where movement shapes the design and the shoe becomes an extension of the body.
Common Thread
More than a collaboration, this project is the result of a natural creative exchange. It’s about trust, friendship, and the shared belief that great design comes from instinct, spontaneity, and a willingness to see things differently.
MESTARI KESÄ
EARTH BROWN / JASMINE GREEN
€190,00
In sizes 35-49
Crafted with premium materials, the KARHU by zomer Mestari Kesä combines heritage craftsmanship with expressive design. With the use of different types of leather, a perforated and stitched M-logo, debossed and printed branding, and a lace closure inspired by KARHU bowling shoes, the shoe is something truly unique.
MESTARI KESÄ
MATTE CHROME / MATTE CHROME
€190,00
In sizes 35-49
Crafted with premium materials, the KARHU by zomer Mestari Kesä combines heritage craftsmanship with expressive design. With the use of different types of leather, a perforated and stitched M-logo, debossed and printed branding, and a lace closure inspired by KARHU bowling shoes, the shoe is something truly unique.
MESTARI KESÄ
HIGH RISK RED / ORCHID PINK
€190,00
In sizes 35-49
Crafted with premium materials, the KARHU by zomer Mestari Kesä combines heritage craftsmanship with expressive design. With the use of different types of leather, a perforated and stitched M-logo, debossed and printed branding, and a lace closure inspired by KARHU bowling shoes, the shoe is something truly unique.
Photographer: Dan Tobin Smith @dantobinsmith @ArtPartner
Stylist: Imruh Asha @imruh @ArtPartner
Choreographer and Casting Director: Benjamin Jonsson @benjaminjonsson
Dance Company: Rambert
Hair: Lawrence Walker @laurencewalker_ @streeters
Makeup: Sidharta Simone @streerers
Production: REPRO @re.pro_
