Koio Relaunches Original Primo Sneaker with Rose Anvil for 10th Anniversary

NYC-based footwear brand Koio is celebrating its tenth anniversary by relaunching The Primo, the high-top sneaker that originally debuted the brand in 2015. This limited-edition re-release is presented in collaboration with renowned leatherworker and YouTube content creator Rose Anvil, celebrating the silhouette's legacy as Koio’s founding design.

The updated Primo retains Koio’s original Italian manufacturing standards while incorporating key internal upgrades for improved craftsmanship. The shoe features a full leather Strobel board, a leather toe cap, and a leather counter, replacing internal synthetic components found in previous iterations. The upper is crafted from vegetable-tanned, untreated Vachetta calf leather, sourced from the Italian tannery Conceria Annarita. This premium material is designed to naturally darken with wear, allowing the sneaker to develop a unique patina and personalized character over time.

Johannes Quodt, co-founder of Koio, expressed the significance of reintroducing the design for the milestone anniversary. “Reintroducing the Primo for our ten-year anniversary is incredibly meaningful,” Quodt said. “It was the shoe that launched the brand, so bringing it back with Rose Anvil’s technical rigor felt like the right way to honor its legacy. The Vachetta leather will age beautifully, making this one of the most personal and character-rich versions we’ve ever created.”

The Primo high-top first debuted in February 2015 at Koio’s Bowery pop-up, conceived by the founders as their ideal high-top silhouette. The style remained a core offering for five years before the brand shifted focus and expanded its range. Koio continued to receive requests from collectors and longtime customers to bring back the original design, prompting the reissue as part of the brand’s tenth-anniversary celebrations.

Weston Kay, representing Rose Anvil, highlighted the enhancements made during the collaboration. “The Primo was already a well-built sneaker, but replacing every internal synthetic component with leather significantly elevates the craftsmanship,” Kay commented. “Using untreated Vachetta leather means the shoe doesn’t just look good out of the box but it continues to improve over time.” This project follows the success of the Koio x Rose Anvil Capri Triple White collaboration, which sold out in less than 24 hours.

The limited-edition Primo is priced at $325 and is available exclusively online.