CQP (styled C.QP) is an independent Stockholm footwear brand founded in 2014 by former investment banker Adam Lewenhaupt. Every pair is designed in Stockholm and made at the same production facility outside Porto that the brand has used since its early years, where about 80% of production is finished by hand, using mainly Italian leathers and suedes.
CQP launched in 2014 with one sneaker, the Tarmac, in four colours. At first it sold only through its website and a small Stockholm store, which it still runs as a showroom and boutique on Skeppargatan 22. The brand says it is independent and owned by its founders and team. Founder Adam Lewenhaupt has said that the UK and the US are its strongest markets outside Sweden. CQP is sold through a selected group of independent retailers around the world.
All CQP production takes place in Portugal. According to the brand, it tested a number of factories in Italy and Portugal before settling on one production facility outside Porto, which it has used since its early years and with which it has a close relationship. About 80% of the production process there is done by hand, and a model can spend months or years in development before it goes into production. CQP buys most of its materials in Italy: suedes and leathers from Italian tanneries, and natural-rubber soles from makers such as Margom, Vibram and Gommus. It then ships finished pairs worldwide from its Swedish warehouse. Lewenhaupt has said he could find a Portuguese factory that would charge half the price, but has stayed with the current one to keep quality consistent. The brand has not published the factory’s name.
CQP shows a common corridor pattern: design, brand and distribution in Scandinavia, and manufacturing in northern Portugal’s footwear cluster. The brand makes quality, not price, its reason for producing in Portugal, and it has kept the same factory for about ten years.
In June 2026, CQP launched the Stillo, a slim sneaker handmade in Portugal from Italian leather and suede, timed for the start of the FIFA World Cup. TheIndustry.fashion interviewed Lewenhaupt on 9 July 2026 and gave its UK price as £370. The brand celebrated its tenth anniversary with Stockholm retailer Trunk.
Sources: CQP FAQ (production, materials, ownership, boutique); TheIndustry.fashion, 9 July 2026 (founding, markets, Stillo); Trunk Clothiers (factory outside Porto). Fetched 9 November 2026.
Status: Compiled from public sources · Last verified: · Update this profile
Work at C.QP? Send corrections or additions. Every update is checked before it is published; submissions are reviewed within a few working days.
Fractio helps Nordic companies enter the Portuguese market — from market sizing to first sales, hiring, and legal setup.
Talk to Fractio →