When Baltimore-based skate imprint Carpet Company announced its highly anticipated collaboration with Salomon, the sneaker world immediately took notice. The resulting XT‑Whisper Void “Habibi Express” perfectly encapsulated founders Ayman and Osama Abdeldayem’s DIY ethos, merging Salomon’s rugged, trail-ready heritage with Carpet Company’s playful, skate-driven appeal.Leading up to the reveal, the brand dropped a series of conceptual Instagram reels that captured their distinctly irreverent vibe. Tinged with retro-nostalgia and offbeat humor, the narrative centered around a custom, red-horned minivan – the physical embodiment of the “Habibi Express” – decked out with Salomon’s logo alongside Carpet Company’s recognizable star-shaped motif. This gradually culminated in the grand unveiling of the campaign visuals, showcasing a sneaker that heavily echoed the custom vehicle: a bold vermillion exterior topped with a warm gold iridescent shimmer, anchored by a black mesh base, and tied together with hits of blue, yellow and metallic silver across various sections of the shoe.
