What is the New Label “CITY CLIMBING”?

Eiichi Katsukawa, a designer who runs a shoe repair shop called “Shoe of Life” near Ikejiri-Ohashi Station on the Den-en-Toshi Line in Tokyo, also develops his own shoe designs. This season, he launched a new label, “CITY CLIMBING.”

“Since launching the brand in 2007, I’ve focused on creating products with a rich feel for leather, hoping to bring richness to people’s lives through my shoes. However, the events of March 11, 2011, prompted a shift in people’s awareness, viewing what they wear as protection, and I began to feel the same way,” says Katsukawa.

This instinct for self-preservation, he explains, has led to behaviors like wearing outdoor apparel as fashion, sporting high-performance climbing boots in the city, or opting for a backpack that leaves hands free.

“We live surrounded by various elements in the city—art, practicality, decoration, function. I wanted to create products that combine the qualities of leather with enhanced footwear functionality. That’s the essence of this new label, CITY CLIMBING.”

These shoes, designed for navigating the city with the agility of a mountain ascent, are presented as impeccably crafted Tyrolean shoes and leather sneakers with Vibram molded soles.

Natural Leather and Design for the Urban Dweller

The standout items in the CITY CLIMBING line are Tyrolean boots and shoes, featuring uppers made from three types of exotic leather: sharkskin, ostrich, and crocodile. “The sharkskin is from blue sharks caught in Kesennuma, Japan, and both the material and tanning are done in Japan. When you wear them, they have a unique atmosphere unlike European shoes, are very soft, and being from the sea, they are resistant to rain,” Katsukawa explains. “The matte black ostrich has a texture I’ve always loved, and the large-scaled crocodile has beautifully aligned scale patterns.”

By pairing exotic leathers, which showcase material texture exceptionally well, with the artisanal skill of hand-sewing the moccasin—a technique that is becoming technically difficult to perform in Japan—Katsukawa aims for customers to “feel not only the texture of the leather but also its inherent qualities.”

“The CITY CLIMBING series uses the Goodyear welt construction, and to enhance fit, we’ve incorporated a long heel counter that holds the heel from the sides. While many shoes today omit the extra step of a long counter, it’s essential for my concept of ‘shoes that feel good to wear’ and ‘comfortable construction,’ so I am committed to this labor-intensive method.”

Footwear as Gear for Comfortable Urban Living

The CITY CLIMBING series also includes leather sneakers with a reinforced collar for added functionality. “Both leather and sneaker features are essential for urban life. With CITY CLIMBING, we aim to proactively offer a range of footwear that serves as gear for the urban dweller, enhancing their sensibility and providing both functional and emotional satisfaction.”

The Tyrolean boots are priced as follows: sharkskin shoes at ¥75,600, short boots at ¥82,080; ostrich shoes at ¥95,040, short boots at ¥102,600; and crocodile shoes at ¥108,000, short boots at ¥118,800.



“JAPAN Shoe Fair 2015”
Dates | Until Tuesday, November 10
Isetan Shinjuku Men’s Building B1F, Men’s Shoes
3-14-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Tel. 03-3352-1111 (Main Switchboard)