Jonny Johansson

Jonny Johansson has always operated with an effortless disregard for conventions, whether in music, fashion, or business. As co-founder and creative director of Acne Studios, Johansson has molded the brand into a touchstone of contemporary fashion cool—an entity that sits between art, streetwear, and luxury, yet never quite belongs to any one of them. Founded in 1996 in Stockholm, Acne began with a rather subversive approach: 100 pairs of jeans with bold red stitching, handed out to friends and acquaintances. It was a quiet, grassroots revolution, the kind of move that has since become Johansson’s signature—a blend of calculated risk, creative freedom, and just enough irreverence.

For Johansson, the starting point was never about conquering streetwear or ready-to-wear, nor even about following trends. As he told Vogue Australia, it was about tapping into what people were wearing, what felt current. The debut denim was just the beginning. Acne became known for its clean lines, quirky detailing, and an ability to cross between styles seamlessly—it was fashion in motion, always evolving, never quite standing still. Today, Acne Studios is an international powerhouse, with over 60 stores across 15 countries and an annual revenue that speaks to its cultural and commercial resonance.

But for Johansson, who originally started out as a musician, fashion has never been about adhering to a set script. Without a formal fashion education, his journey has been one of trial, error, and instinct—the kind of instinct that prioritizes authenticity over artifice. He designs not from trends but from his own lived experiences, blurring the lines between his personal life and his creative output. That’s why Acne Studios has managed to stay so relevant for so long—it’s rooted in what’s honest, what’s now.

Under Johansson’s creative direction, Acne Studios continues to defy expectations. Whether it’s collaborations with artists, jewelry designers like Michael Zobel, or a subversive take on classic silhouettes, Johansson’s vision for Acne has always been about making ideas tangible—making dreams something you can wear. It’s a challenge he’s constantly met head-on, with a mix of laid-back cool and creative ambition that’s distinctly his own.