Camper (; Catalan: [kəmˈpe], meaning " farmer") is a footwear company with headquarters in Mallorca, Spain. Lorenzo Fluxa founded the company in 1975. The Camper brand is marketed globally and is present in 40 countries, with more than 400 stores, and sales of around 4 million pairs of shoes annually.
Company overview
In 1877, Antonio Fluxà , a Mallorcan cobbler, introduced the first sewing machines on the island and introduced a mechanized approach to shoe making.
In 1975, Lorenzo Fluxà , grandson of Antonio Fluxà , founded Camper.
In 1981, the first Camper store opened in Barcelona, Spain.
In 1992, Camper opened stores in Paris and Milan. An American retail store in opened in 1999 in New York City.
In 2005, Camper began brand diversification by launching a hotel concept, Casa Camper, in Barcelona and later in Berlin, and Dos Palillos, a Michelin-starred restaurant in the Raval district of Barcelona.
In 2006, Camper launched Camper Together, a collaboration project with brand partners to create singular products and stores.
In 2012, Miguel Fluxà , representing the fourth generation of the Fluxa family, was appointed CEO.
In 2013, after two years as head of menswear at Mugler and eight seasons of collaboration via Camper Together, Romain Kremer began working as main collection consultant at Camper. He was named the brand's creative director in 2014.
Footwear
From the beginning, Camper's approach to casual footwear design has been to create unisex concepts which blur the boundaries between sporty and smart. Hybrid models are prominently featured across the collection and are a key characteristic of its contemporary footwear.
Over the years, a small number of lines have gained prominence and popularity both within the organization and internationally. These lines, referred to as Camper Icons, have been reimagined and redesigned hundreds of times over the brand’s 40-year history.
- Camper’s first shoe, Camaleón, was a unisex design inspired by the shoes of local farmers. It was made of recycled material including surplus offcuts of leather, worn-out tires, and strips of canvas. It became popular quickly and established Camper as a rising brand in the shoe market.
- Camper launched TWINS in 1988, challenging the idea that shoes must be identical. The TWINS line breaks classic symmetrical design, yet remains cohesive. Reception of the playful concept was overwhelming for Camper and has resulted in collaborations with artists including Joan Miró.
- Pelotas (which means “balls†in Spanish) became Camper’s most influential and recognizable icon in the mid-1990s. Originally inspired by sports pioneers, the line features 87 balls on the outsole, which blends a unique cushioning system with a distinctive look. Since its launch, Camper has sold more than 11 million pairs of Pelotas and has created more than 600 different style combinations.
- Camper launched the footwear concept Wabi in 2000. The concept stems from “wabiruâ€, a Japanese term meaning “to ask for forgiveness,†and originally debuted as an eco-friendly slipper inspired by the culture’s approach to minimalism. One of the brand’s most ambitious projects to date, Wabi reduces the production process down to just four steps and uses a minimal number of components.
- Inspired by Wabi's simplicity, Peu was launched in 2004. Meaning “foot†in MallorquÃn, Peu maintains the spirit of modest and unpretentious shoes for city use while also being environmentally friendly. Peu features an “easy wear†elastic lacing system and an ergonomic shape designed to accommodate a wider foot size.
Camper Together
Launched in 2006, Camper Together is a collaboration project in which the brand partners with leading designers from the world of fashion, architecture, and industrial and graphic design to create singular products and stores.
Retail collaborations include: Kengo Kuma, Atelier Marko Brajovic, Doshi Levien, Nendo, Shigeru Ban, Martà Guixé, Tomás Alonso, Isabel Lopez, Fernando Amat, Curro Claret, Tokujin Yoshioka, Benedetta Tagliabue, Michele De Lucchi, Bouroullec Brothers, Shiro Miura, Neri&Hu, Konstantin Grcic, Memphis Group, Gaetano Pesce, Diébédo Francis Kéré, Campana Brothers, Alfredo Häberli, and Jaime Hayón.
Footwear collaborations include: Bernhard Willheim, Hella Jongerius, Jaime Hayón, Romain Kremer, 99%IS-, Gosha Rubchinskiy, Rachel Comey, Nendo, Francois Dumas, Capara, Kvadrat, Mint Designs, Doshi Levien, Swash, Dai Fujiwara, C. Neeon, Jasper Morrison, Veronique Branquinho, Alfredo Haberli, and Maria Blaisse.
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