XXL Nutrition X Dutch’D - The story behind the Arena Sneaker

Dutch’D is known for its well-considered designs that are elegant and timeless.

Roel, the founder of Dutch’D, has close ties with XXL Nutrition and, alongside his work at Dutch’D, still works as a product developer at XXL Nutrition. A collaboration between XXL Nutrition and Dutch’D was therefore inevitable.

XXL Nutrition is known for its sports nutrition and sports accessories, and can proudly call itself the largest sports nutrition brand in the Netherlands. XXL Nutrition provides thousands of people with sports nutrition, sports accessories, and sportswear every day. And there’s just one product missing. You guessed it! Sneakers!

The idea was born.

But how do we bring this idea to life? After all, it had to be a sneaker that worked for both brands. How do you combine a sneaker that’s sporty while also capturing the elegance and design of a premium footwear brand?

When sports meets design!

It hasn’t escaped anyone’s notice that the 2000s running shoe style is taking over today’s streets. You can’t escape it at the gym either. It’s clear that the running shoe look is super trendy! Okay, so it needs to have a running shoe vibe, but also be unique.

You can bet we’ve added some extra touches to the shoes at Dutch’D!

1. Most shoes are made from PU leather, which is simply plastic leather. We only use premium materials. In this case, the Arena is made entirely from genuine leather.

2. The XXL Nutrition X Dutch’D sneaker had to be original, but also look really sleek. You should feel like you want to be seen wearing these sneakers. The Arena has a very sleek design and a striking ‘bulk’ silhouette.

3. Did someone say comfort? Who wants to walk around in shoes that don’t feel good? Exactly, nobody… That’s why the shoe has extra room in the toe box. The Arena is also heavily padded. The EVA sole springs back beautifully, so you won’t want to stop walking!

4. That comfort is great, but shouldn’t a sporty sneaker also deliver performance? Hold my beer! All Arena shoes come with a standard comfort insole and a performance insole. The performance insole is much firmer, so the shoe has significantly less bounce. We recommend always using this insole during sports activities to boost your performance!

I’ve now told you about four benefits. Hopefully you’re convinced and will close this blog right away and grab the unique XXL Nutrition X Dutch’D Arena shoes from XXL Nutrition

If you’d like a different color, be sure to visit the Arena category too.

Then check out the interview with Roel, the founder of Dutch’D, below.

Interview with the designer

Want to learn more about the Arena Sneaker and Dutch'D? Read on for an exclusive interview with designer Roel Linders!

Hi Roel, could you introduce yourself and tell us exactly what your role at Dutch'D involves?

Sure! Alongside my job at XXL Nutrition, I started my own company called Dutch’D 4 years ago. I still do a lot myself at the moment: designing, planning collections, customer service, sales, logistics, marketing, and so on!

What’s the story behind Dutch'D? Who or what inspired you to start a premium shoe brand, and how did the process unfold from idea to execution?

Ever since I started working at XXL Nutrition, I had a feeling that I wanted to start my own brand someday. I’ve always been very interested in clothing, but I felt that the market was already pretty saturated. Personally, I think shoes are the most beautiful clothing item. You can incorporate so many details into them. So the choice was easy: it had to be shoes. Now I can hear you thinking: aren’t shoes clothing too? Absolutely, but the market is very different.

How did the collaboration between Dutch’D and XXL Nutrition come about?

I’ve now been working at XXL Nutrition for nine years and have really enjoyed it. Over the years, I’ve held several different roles. In recent years, I’ve mainly focused on product design and non-food purchasing. XXL Nutrition has grown into the Netherlands’ leading supplement brand, which I’m naturally very proud of! So it was a no-brainer for me to bring Dutch’D and XXL Nutrition together. Luckily, René thought it was a fun and good idea too! 

What were the main sources of inspiration for the design of the Arena sneaker?

At first, I really based the Arena on running shoes from the 2000s. Then I started adding details that feel current. Sleek lines running from back to front give the Arena a much more dynamic look. 

What’s the strangest or most unexpected thing you’ve ever drawn inspiration from?

Inspiration really comes from everywhere. But what stuck with me most was the Elements model by Dutch’D. Most Dutch’D shoes are made in Portugal. When I was there on business, I also stopped by the museum. It was located in an old castle. One large hall had a huge skeleton on the ceiling. I photographed it and translated it into the lines on the side of this sneaker.

Can you walk us through the entire creation process for the Arena sneaker, from the first idea on paper to final production and launch?

Actually, the Arena process took too long, way too long haha! At first, I was really working on a hybrid shoe: an everyday sneaker that would also perform well during exercise. The only problem was that the shoe looked completely out of place with jeans, and well, Dutch’D is and always will be a designer shoe brand too. The entire process ended up taking two years. I felt like I only had one chance, so it had to be right! 

What’s your favorite part of the design process and why?

There isn’t really just one thing I like most, but the buzz I get from designing is addictive. My iPad is now full of designs, so you could say that designing is high on the list. Unfortunately, it’s not possible to release everything!

Which three items do you always have with you when you’re working?

1. iPad with Pencil
2. Laptop
3. A mouse. Don’t call me if I have to use Photoshop without a mouse, haha!

What makes the Arena sneaker unique compared to other sneakers on the market? And why is it the shoe for athletes?

The hybrid method. Simply put, I don’t know of another sneaker brand that includes two different insoles with the model. And then there are the materials used, of course. You don’t often see these in this type of shoe. (Of course, there are also several premium brands that do this.)

If you had to describe the Arena sneaker in one word, what would it be and why?

Tough question! I’d say premium next-level sports shoe. Does that work?

Were there any specific challenges during the development of this sneaker, and how did you handle them?

The biggest challenge was really switching off my perfectionism. Good enough is good enough, so to speak! I finally just went ahead and requested the first sample. It didn’t look great, although I could immediately see its potential. Without that first sample, the current Arena shoe would never have existed! 

What’s a trend you’re really excited about? And what trend do you hope disappears soon?

Pretty much anything goes these days. You see so many different styles and trends on the street, which then get combined with each other too. There’s something for everyone. Personally, I don’t get the trend of buying products that are already pre-damaged. For example, shoes with scuff marks or even sand.

What is your ultimate goal or dream that you hope to achieve with Dutch'D?

Being among the biggest shoe brands in the Netherlands. That would be really cool!