Signed Sheets for Purchasers

JAPAN Shoe Fair 2015 features a stellar lineup, including Japan’s foremost shoe designers, outstanding factory brands, and bespoke brands, alongside four pairs of works by students aspiring to become shoe designers.

“For this shoe fair, we gave designers and brands no direction whatsoever; it’s a pure design competition. Those who agreed with our call have exhibited the shoes they’ve always wanted to create. Please first appreciate their individual interpretations of shoes. We’ve deliberately kept the shoe descriptions minimal, so we hope you’ll pick them up, touch them, and feel something. We’d be delighted if you could view the shoes without preconceptions and form your own impressions.” This was stated by an Isetan Men’s buyer on the opening day, October 28th.

A notable feature is the shoe-shaped sheets placed beneath the exhibited shoes, where designers have left their personal comments. Purchasers will receive these signed sheets as a gift.

Shoes Not Featured in the Previous Article

The “W MONK STRAP SHOES” from “KIDS LOVE GAITE” are based on the brand’s signature double monk strap shoes, but feature details not possible in the regular collection. With a special construction of stacked leather creating a leather sole with the same thickness as a crepe sole, and uppers made from Inden-gami, a traditional craft, these are truly exquisite pieces that invite you to touch them.

“Monk Sneakers” from “CERVINO” express the current state of Tokyo with the theme “TOKYO.” Consciously incorporating not only the urban aspects like skyscrapers and neon lights, but also the ethnic historical background of shrines and temples, the design captures the city’s atmosphere and expressions, creating a unique Tokyo lightness through materials and combinations.

“SUN/kakke” exhibits shoes made from leather supplied by the tanner for the bag brand “Bole,” which holds a royal warrant from Sweden. The mountain cattle hide, tanned using only the bark of the Ezomatsu spruce and water from the nearby Pita River, is a completely natural tanned raw leather that develops a unique reddish hue and softens over time, offering a delightful aging process.

Furthermore, the collection is packed with masterpieces that impress even shoe professionals, including the “eldest son” and “second son” models from “Le Parrain” by designer Nao Yokoo, the elegant slip-on style “NO NAME” model from “Marquess” designed to complement suits, and the “Crimson” model by Yohei Fukuda.

＜JAPAN Shoe Fair 2015 Exhibitors＞
bibliotek, COLUMBUS, DAITA KIMURA, Desertic, ENTOAN, HIROSHI TSUBOUCHI, H? Katsukawa From Tokyo, JOJO, JOLI, Kids Love Gaite, MADRAS, makoto taguchi, Marquess, MIHARAYASUHIRO, Nao Yokoo, Otsuka, PERFETTO, REGAL, Salon, SCOTCH GRAIN, SNTORII, SPINGLE MOVE, SUN/kakke, UNION IMPERIAL, YOHEI FUKUDA, Teppei Yoshimi, Min Min Kang

“JAPAN Shoe Fair 2015”
Period: Ongoing until November 10, 2015 (Tuesday)
Isetan Shinjuku Men’s Building B1F – Men’s Shoes Section
3-14-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo