Behind the Seams: Akid

A children’s footwear line was kind of a no-brainer for Canadian expats and entrepreneurs Matt George and Ashleigh Dempster. He’s known in sneakerhead circles for his stores Goodfoot, Nomad and Stussy in Toronto and Vancouver, not to mention his men’s brand, Ransom, as well as collaborations with Adidas and consulting for Kanye West. She’s one half of the team behind The Society Global, a members-only virtual culture club for the creative class. So when the Los Angeles-based couple’s firstborn son, Jasper, started walking, they were eager to get some stylish kicks on his feet and launched Akid in February of 2014. As Dempster puts it, “With his background in manufacturing and mine as a shoe lover, it was a pretty natural project to come to life.”

Targeting kids ages 2 to 8 years (or sizes 5C to 2Y) and retailing from $60 to $100, the unisex line of handcrafted boots, high-tops and moccasins first sold exclusively through its online brand boutique before moving into wholesale in Spring ’15 and growing its offering to seven styles. “For many brands, the focus is on their adult business with children’s as an extension of that. Akid is all about the kid. We make product that is not only functional but pushes the limits from a fashion standpoint,” Dempster notes, pointing to such details as buttery soft leathers, cushioned insoles, non-slip natural rubber outsoles and toddler-friendly zippers. She adds, “There is no method to our madness. When we pull together ideas, it’s from anything and everything that has caught our eye.”

Neiman Marcus (select stores and online) has picked up the brand for spring, along with New York City-based Yoya and Kitson and Union in Los Angeles. For Fall ’15, the collection has expanded again to include Axel, a simple leather sneaker with Velcro straps in red, black and printed options. Meanwhile bestsellers Atticus, a construction boot style, and Liv, a slip-on sneaker, have been updated with bold camouflage prints and studs. As for the brand’s recent showing at Playtime Paris, Dempster reveals, “It’s all very early for us but we’re happy with the pick-up to date.” Part of that success she attributes to a “movement” happening in kids’ fashion in general. “In the past, the focus was on the practical. Now it seems that customers are still looking for practical but with more of a fashion edge.”—Lyndsay McGregor