Aimé Leon Dore is a streetwear brand from Queens, New York and was founded in 2014 by Teddy Santis. Although the brand is still young, it has already made a name for itself in the highly sought-after street fashion market and has collaborated with several brands.

Aimé Leon Dore stands for simple and timeless designs that still have their own unique aesthetic and are recognizable. This is clearly about life in New York. The designs should embody and reflect the lifestyle of the world metropolis. Founder Teddy Santis grew up in Queens in the 90s and uses what he has experienced as a source of inspiration. In particular, his youth and in particular the nineties are reflected in his designs. The “golden era” of hip hop and the time of legendary basketball players. Tupac, Snoop Dogg, Notorious BIG and many more shaped and fashionably influenced the rap scene at this time. The nineties were a decade of diverse movements. Gangster rap and street music swept the masses away and were often directed against the state and police. They wore bandanas, gold chains, tracksuits, timberlands, and baggy jeans. ALD incorporates these vibes into their designs in a modern way. For example with large prints, retro jeans, NY caps or college jackets. The shoes also show the clear retro and basketball influences of the nineties and 2000s.

Aimé Leon Dore has his flagship store in New York in an old building. The shop is decorated in the style of a cozy living room and creates a homely atmosphere. Next to the store is the “Café Aimé Leon Dore”, where you can buy limited edition pieces in addition to Greek and American coffee specialties. The founder of the brand himself grew up between Greece and Queens and wants to combine the two places of his childhood. The café and store don't primarily invite you to shop, but perfectly convey the retro vibe and New York lifestyle. Aimé Leon Dore mainly designs clothing for men in sizes XS to XXL and also sells shoes and accessories.

In addition to collaborations with Woolrich, Clarks or even Porsche, ALD has also designed several sneakers with brands such as Puma and especially New Balance. Together with Puma, ALD revised the “Puma States”, which was published in gray, yellow and dark red in June 2015. With NB, Aimé Leon Dore has already reworked several classics and recently Teddy Santis was also named creative director of New Balance's “Made in the USA” series. The first major project between the two brands took place in April 2019 and focused on NB's 997 silhouette. The shoe has a white upper and a gray midsole, which is enlivened by colorful paneling. Cherry red and mustard yellow accents lighten up the sneaker's design. The 997 features suede overlays, a nubuck tongue and heel, mesh underlays, custom floral insoles, an ENCAP midsole, and a TPU heel cap. This model was well received and already in November 2019, the products of the next collaboration were released as part of the “Life in Balance” collection. Together, the two brands reworked the 990v2 and 990v5 silhouettes and used bright colors. The accompanying campaign played on the 990V5's reputation, which is often referred to as an old-fashioned “dad sneaker.” The 990v2 appeared with a grey mesh upper, which is contrasted by colorful suede overlays in pine green, blue, grey and yellow. The 990v5, on the other hand, has a blue mesh upper with green suede. The next collaboration followed in March 2020 and the 827 silhouette of NB was reissued after 20 years. The sneaker came in various colors and also has a white mesh upper, which is trimmed with smooth leather. The 827 is also a classic “dad sneaker.” In April 2021, New Balance and Aimé Leon Dore reissued the 550 silhouette, which is reminiscent of a 90s court sneaker, in various colors. The New Balance 550 Aime Leon Dore features a white leather upper and green overlays. A padded yellow leather “N” logo is embossed on each side of the sneaker and the vintage aesthetic has been retained here too. It was followed by the New Balance 1300 and the latest product of the collaboration is the NB 993 in a dark brown.

Aimé Leon Dore has a high level of recognition and an aesthetic that goes back to the nineties. It remains to be seen how the collaboration between New Balance and Aimé Leon Dore develops and which retro sneakers still await us. The brand's simple pieces honor the beginnings and two of the biggest sources of inspiration in street fashion: basketball and hip hop music.