Li Karlsén and Therese Alshammar, captured through the lens of Milad Abedi and Oscar Barkenbom in their preferred element. The effortless motions of the two, the force, precision and staying power of their aquatics symbolizes the fuse of elegance and function that permeates everything we do as a brand.
LI KARLSÉN IS ONE OF THE WORLD’S BEST FREE DIVERS REACHING DEPTHS BELOW 70 METERS, DISTANCES LONGER THAN 200 M AND A BREATH HOLD OF MORE THAN 6 MINUTES. SHE IS A FORMER ARMY CAPTAIN TURNED CIVIL RIGHTS DEFENDER AND NOW ATHLETE AND ENTREPRENEUR.
What is it that makes you the best at what you do?
I see my hard work as the true wins, the everyday practice and continuous development, where competitions are just a space where I sometimes pick up the medals for that hard work.
What happens to your mind and body when you freedive?
Freediving is a very unique space where you are in ultimate peace, and at the same time in extreme stress. The breath holding is not the focus at all, you tend to completely forget about holding your breath when you freedive since you're completely present in just being....
Karlsén and Alshammar embody confidence and the balance of fierce performance with sophistication - just as we designed our garments to be worn. The shoot took place in the swimming halls of GIH in Stockholm. A spot both Therese and Li refer to, as a place of great importance, having spent countless hours in their facilities readying their careers as professional athletes.
THERESE ALSHAMMAR IS A FORMER PROFESSIONAL SWIMMER WHO HAS WON THREE OLYMPIC MEDALS AND 75 CHAMPIONSHIP MEDALS IN TOTAL. READ ABOUT WHAT TOOK HER THERE AND WHAT KEEPS HER MOTIVATED.
What is your biggest motivation right now?
I’m brought up in competitive swimming so most things I do reflect my strong motivation in always trying to improve. As long as my motivation will result in any good, I’m happy to keep striving for improvement.
I’m motivated by different things in life and I consciously try to steer my motivation and focus towards things that bring me and other people value. For example, my main focus is to spend time with my family and strengthen the relationship by spending quantity time with my kids. In contrast to quality time - a saying I heard a lot when I had kids and early saw through. Kids don’t care about quality, they need quantity.
“...FINDING MY RHYTHM AND FLOW IN THE WATER IS BLISS AND TO ME I OFTEN FEEL LIKE THIS IS THE CLOSEST FEELING ONE CAN HAVE TO FLYING.” - THERESE ALSHAMMAR
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“I’M AFRAID ALL THE TIME, AT LEAST MY BRAIN IS AND ESPECIALLY WHEN I’M PREPARING FOR SOMETHING THAT’S OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE. I TRULY BELIEVE THAT YOU SHOULD DO SOMETHING THAT PUSHES YOU OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE EVERY DAY, EVEN DOING SOMETHING THAT SCARES YOU EVERYDAY.” - LI KARLSÉN
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