XVI Footwear began in the suburbs of Stockholm 2024, in the mind of a 16-year-old named Aiden Sadeghi. However, it first started with a much different name.
Originally Aiden’s first idea was called Lyx Sweden and was intended to be a luxury shoe brand; "lyx" translating to “luxury” or “great comfort” in Swedish. After a few sketched designs and some thought, he realized the brand had no soul, no reason for being, nothing for it to stand for. So he went back to the drawing board, and this time, the concept stuck, and XVI Footwear was born.
XVI, the Roman numeral for 16, carries three meanings at once. It marks the age Aiden was when he started. It's a reminder that you don't need to wait until you're "ready" or "old enough" to build something real and meaningful. And it's a nod to an older truth, that Rome wasn't built in a day. It's a reminder that an idea without hard work, consistency, and discipline will never get started.
Growing up on Stockholm's streets, Aiden was drawn to the city's signature chic, elegant, minimal aesthetic and style. But by 16, he ran into the same frustration a lot of people his age have: if you wanted something well-made and well-designed, you paid a serious premium for it. There was no solid middle ground, because the brands setting those prices weren't chasing craftsmanship. They were chasing a margin.
That gap between what a good pair of sneakers actually costs to make and what people are charged for one, is exactly what XVI Footwear set out to close.
