SummarySalomon has partnered with Baltimore-based skate brand Carpet Company for a bold new take on the XT-Whisper Void silhouetteThe striking design draws direct inspiration from the “Habibi Express,” Carpet Company’s signature 1995 Honda Acty Street van, featuring high-gloss red finishes and iridescent TPU detailingThe release is strictly limited to 1,720 individually numbered pairs globally—a clever nod to the address of Carpet Company’s Baltimore warehouse where the van is storedThe intersection of high-performance outdoor gear and gritty, independent skate culture has yielded one of the most exciting footwear collaborations of the season. Salomon has officially joined forces with Carpet Company—the beloved Baltimore-based skate brand founded in 2016 by brothers Ayman and Osama Abdeldayem. Known for their self-taught, instinct-driven DIY approach to screen-printing and board design, Carpet Company is injecting its signature irreverent energy into Salomon’s technical XT-Whisper Void, resulting in a shoe that completely challenges convention.Rather than looking to the trails for inspiration, the Abdeldayem brothers looked straight into their own driveway. The design of the collaborative XT-Whisper Void is heavily anchored by the “Habibi Express,” Carpet Company’s iconic 1995 Honda Acty Street van that serves as a daily fixture in the brand’s universe.Translating a vintage Japanese microvan into a wearable sneaker is no easy feat, but the execution is flawless. The shoe features a vibrant, high-gloss red finish perfectly matched to the vehicle’s paint job. To mimic the reflection of the van’s windows, the upper utilizes striking iridescent TPU overlays. The design is rounded out with custom graphics and Carpet Company’s signature devil horns, effectively turning Salomon’s utilitarian base into a highly personal, tongue-in-cheek statement piece.To make the release even more special, the brands are keeping the production numbers incredibly tight. Only 1,720 individually numbered pairs have been produced worldwide. The highly specific production run is a direct homage to 1720 Llewelyn Ave, the address of Carpet Company’s Baltimore warehouse where the “Habibi Express” resides, cementing the shoe as both a functional runner and a rare collectible.As Salomon continues to successfully expand into cultural spaces where community and design intersect, this Carpet Company link-up proves that technical footwear doesn’t have to take itself too seriously. With only 1,720 pairs in existence, the XT-Whisper Void launches May 16 exclusively atCarpet Company retail, followed by a release on carpetco.us on May 17 at 8 p.m. EST, and a global release on May 21 at Salomon.
