TOMS Releases Shoes Featuring Works by Three Japanese Artists | ISETAN MEN'S

ISETAN MEN’S

Special Items Featuring Hand-Painted Designs by Three Japanese Artists

Shoes Born from Empathy with TOMS' "One for One" Philosophy Launch

TOMS, established in 2006, promises, "For every pair of shoes you purchase, we will give a new pair of shoes to a child in need around the world" – the “One for One” initiative. Three artists – Koji Toyota (Palm Graphics), NAOMI KAZAMA, and Dragon76 – who resonate with this philosophy, have hand-painted TOMS shoes. These limited-edition shoes will be available at a pop-up shop held from May 11 (Mon) to May 19 (Tue) in the Men's Shoes section on the B1 floor of Isetan Shinjuku Men's Building.

Photographs by SUZUKI ShimpeiText by KAJII Makoto (OPENERS)

A New Pair for Children in Need

In 2006, American Blake Mycoskie founded TOMS, driven by a desire to help children living barefoot after encountering a village in Argentina where children could not afford shoes to protect their feet.

The following year, Blake returned to Argentina with 10,000 pairs of shoes purchased by TOMS customers, accompanied by family, friends, and employees.

Expressing a Message of "Enjoy & Surf" Through Art

Koji Toyota was born in Osaka in 1962 and heads Palm Graphics.

In 1997, he held his first exhibition at the International Surfing Museum in Huntington Beach, California. Since then, as the art unit “Palm Graphics,” he has incorporated feelings and messages inspired by surfing into his works and products. He has also collaborated with various brands, including Beams. His art books include "JOY IN LOVE" and "100 T-SHIRT BOOK" (Bueno! Books).
Each TOMS shoe: ¥19,440

Creating Simple, Abstract Works That "Stop Making Things"

NAOMI KAZAMA is an artist born in Kamakura. She moved to San Diego, California, in 1993 and learned screen printing after meeting street art pioneer Shepard Fairey. Upon returning to Japan in 1998, she began experimental activities, such as posting posters around the city. In 2001, she launched the street gallery "Daizu Jikken" in Nakameguro, Tokyo.

Using a technique she calls “Yosemite Print” (a portmanteau of Yosemite and Dynamite), she creates simple, dynamic, abstract, and direct expressions by applying ink to blank screens. Kazama's art is characterized by abstract compositions formed by the synthesis of color palettes and organic graphics.
Each TOMS shoe: ¥19,440

Gaining Attention for Borderless Activities Transcending Borders, Race, and Social Status

Dragon76, born in Shiga Prefecture in 1976, is an artist. Drawing on influences from minority cultures and music, and rooted in street art, he creates works, live paintings, and visuals for the music industry, such as CD jackets, with a passionate and vibrant touch, earning high acclaim both domestically and internationally.

His dynamic live painting performances, especially those created spontaneously, have been showcased at music festivals and clubs in Japan, as well as in New York, London, Liverpool, Birmingham, Kenya, Jordan, and Jamaica. In recent years, he provided artwork for the Premier League's Liverpool in 2011 and performed at a private event for Zindzi Mandela, daughter of former South African President Nelson Mandela, demonstrating borderless activities that transcend national borders, race, and social status.
Each TOMS shoe: ¥19,440

Embrace the "One for One" Message

Many TOMS shoes utilize canvas materials, reflecting a sustainable approach. Even the shoe boxes are made from recycled paper by MICRO-PAK and printed with soy ink derived from soybeans, showcasing a thorough commitment from production to the customer's hands.

Isetan Shinjuku
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