Sweden’s most iconic foam candy just stepped into fashion. Ahlgrens Bilar — the pastel-colored, car-shaped treat that’s been a staple of Swedish confectionery since 1953 — has inspired a sweet sneaker collaboration with designer Bucktron, best known for his work with Byredo and Acne Studios.
The unexpected sneaker collaboration took shape after Ahlgrens’ animated candy ads — featuring fictional characters wearing exaggerated candy-shaped sneakers — went viral on TikTok and Instagram in late 2023. Fans flooded the comments asking where they could buy the shoes. Just over a year later, Bucktron delivered: a limited-edition sneaker directly modeled on the color and silhouette of the nostalgic bilar cars.
Debuted on the streets of Stockholm during the city’s fashion week revival in early June, the sneaker quickly caught the attention of photographers and street-style watchers. It was first seen on local fashion figure Florian Alexander and has since resurfaced in Paris, turning heads with its playful proportions and pastel palette. Designed with the same quirky charm that made the candy a cult favorite, the shoe features oversize foam construction with cloud-like details.
The sneaker officially launched to consumers on June 5 and sold out in under 30 seconds, with no restocks planned. The launch coincided with the height of a growing international obsession with Swedish candy, fueled by TikTok creators layering bright, vegan-friendly gummies into ASMR candy bowls. U.S. stores like BonBon and Sweetish Candy have seen lines out the door and, according to NBC, even hired bouncers to manage crowds craving pick-and-mix blends of fruity discs, sour ropes and foamy textures.
Ahlgrens bilar, manufactured by Cloetta, has long been marketed as “Sweden’s most purchased car.” The original shape was actually a factory mishap — intended to be round but emerging as something more vehicle-like — now a happy accident cemented in Swedish snack lore. The candy’s nostalgic status and newfound global cool factor made it ripe for reinvention.
