From September 19 to 21, 2025, Swiss sports brand On will bring its revolutionary LightSpray technology to the German capital for the first time. With On Labs Berlin, the company presents an interdisciplinary program that brings the brand values of innovation, performance, and design to life.
The event takes place at Kraftwerk Berlin, where raw industrial aesthetics meet future technology. Across 7,000 square meters, visitors will experience how On combines innovation with design and makes its brand vision tangible.
“Bei On verstehen wir Innovation als Prozess, der im täglichen Tun entsteht. “At On, we understand innovation as a process that emerges from daily practice. Designers and engineers work hand in hand, experimenting with materials and developing ideas that combine precision, performance, and lightness. Berlin is the perfect place for us: a city where creativity meets technological progress – exactly the mix that reflects our philosophy,” said Bianca Pestalozzi-Houchangnia, General Manager EMEA, On,
The centerpiece of the event is the LightSpray robot, which produces the upper of the Cloudboom Strike LS – On’s lightest performance shoe to date – in just three minutes. The model is regularly worn by Hellen Obiri, two-time major marathon winner and co-developer of the shoe, as well as German marathon record-holder and On athlete Samuel Fitwi.
Visitors can watch the robot in action as it sprays shoe uppers live on site. Guided tours offer deeper insights into the technology’s development, allow guests to try the innovative “spray shoe” and purchase it directly at the event.
Technology translated into Art: Boris Acket at Kraftwerk
Another highlight is Boris Acket’s installation, Architecting Lightness, which transforms the invisible medium of air into a meditative, sculptural environment. Drawing from Acket’s Einder series, a large, semi-transparent textile is suspended in space, animated solely by invisible air currents.
Visitors move through this living architecture in a unique way. The slow surges of the textile subtly guide the body and alter the rhythm of their movement. This creates a tangible sense of the freedom that comes from a design engineered to be impossibly light, making lightness felt, not just seen.
The artwork serves as a powerful narrative for On’s LightSpray technology, which seeks ultimate lightness by removing the unnecessary to leave only the pure sensation of running
“As an artist, I’m fascinated by the interplay between control and surrender. When composing with air, you can never replicate the same form twice. Invisible currents and subtle turbulences reveal themselves through ultralight fabric suspended in space, making the unseen momentarily visible. With ‘Architecting Lightness’ On invited me to translate LightSpray™ into a spatial experience, one where fabric and air currents meet in a choreography that can never be repeated, only witnessed in the present,” said Boris Acket, Multidisciplinary Artist.
Additional Program Highlights
On Friday evening, Kraftwerk Berlin will transform into a stage for Berlin’s music and art collectives:
- HEISSS x On Labs Berlin – Friday, September 19, 8:00 PM
Together with the Berlin label HEISSS, a special evening is being created, featuring electronic music by Amotik and Inox Traxx as well as HEISSS residents Kim She and Disguised, serving as the kick-off for the race weekend.
Additional program highlights include:
- Insightful running analysis with Rehatleticum
- Community workouts with Hagius
- Interactive workshops with TOURIST
- Recovery massages by new: soul
- 3-Minute Showdown Challenge with 20 of the fastest runners from Berlin and around the world (including a special guest runner on Saturday)
- On Pop-up Store featuring the Cloudboom Strike LS and the latest marathon collection for purchase
- Meet & Greet with On athlete Samuel Fitwi
- Panel discussions with the On team, running crews, creatives, cultural professionals, and other special guests
All details about the program as well as event registration can be found HERE. Registration for individual sessions will be available starting September 5, 2025.
More About LightSpray™
A Swiss revolution in performance footwear
LightSpray™ enables the production of performance shoe uppers in a single, automated step. Instead of around 200 production steps, a shoe upper is created in just three minutes with the help of a robotic arm and a 1.5 km long thread. This method saves time, reduces material use, and cuts the carbon emissions of the shoe by 75% compared to other On competition shoes. More information here.
Cloudboom Strike LS in White/Raspberry
The Swiss sports brand On presents the Cloudboom Strike LS in the exclusive White/Raspberry colourway. The model will be available from September 4 in limited quantities at the On Store in Berlin and selected retailers for 330 Euro.
