Arthful

With gratitude for the hides we receive from living creatures, we use Japanese materials such as leather from domestically raised pigs and from wild boar captured under wildlife damage control measures. Scars and vein marks are not avoided but put to use, and each hide is made up by artisans with masterful skill. Pigskin, for example, is hand-dyed one piece at a time after cutting. Even our Black is not a jet black but a greyish black reminiscent of sumi ink, so the texture and grain of the leather emerge beautifully with the play of light. Enjoy the character that comes from surviving in the wild, and a patina that grows richer with the years.

The sole has a distinctive design, assembled from small pieces fitted together like a puzzle. These are in fact offcuts of leather and rubber that inevitably arise in shoemaking, put to new use out of the maker's wish not to waste a single scrap of leather. Each piece can be repaired individually, and with regular care the shoes will go on supporting your feet for many years to come. A pair that embodies the spirit of the Edo period, to be worn and loved for years.