Japanese Shoes: Bespoke & RTW Super Thread

[nutcracker]



His old prices typically run North of 250k jpy.

However, given he is relocating to Canada, Toronto, I've no idea how much he'll change once he's based there

Moving to Canada eh?
I wonder what kind of a story is behind his decision to base his shoemaking practice in Toronto.

 

[borbor]

Did someone say koji endo is moving to Toronto???

Better lock my wallet up and toss the keys away

 

[bboysdontcryy]



Moving to Canada eh?
I wonder what kind of a story is behind his decision to base his shoemaking practice in Toronto.

Did someone say koji endo is moving to Toronto???

Better lock my wallet up and toss the keys away

Haha. Promised him I wouldn't divulge the why, but all I can say is that it's really not too hard to guess.

Separately, I suppose there's a dearth (relatively) of good shoemakers in the North Americas.

 

[jerrybrowne]



Haha. Promised him I wouldn't divulge the why, but all I can say is that it's really not too hard to guess.

Separately, I suppose there's a dearth (relatively) of good shoemakers in the North Americas.

Hope this means trunk shows to the US......

 

[chogall]



Hope this means trunk shows to the US......

California. Meh. Probably not.

 

[j ingevaldsson]

Last adjustment, but really quite close to bespoke for me.

Laughed a bit when I saw that Jesper from shoegazing had his name on the last too!

Haha so it's both our names on those lasts? We really are feet twins officially now

 

[Stefan88]



Haha so it's both our names on those lasts? We really are feet twins officially now

Haha yes. Zoom in on the last picture I posted. Not sure if you had any or the same adjustments though.

 

[bengal-stripe]



We really are feet twins officially now.

Exciting prospects for the both of you: Now you can borrow each other's shoes. - That should save a bit of money!

 

[j ingevaldsson]

Haha yes. Zoom in on the last picture I posted. Not sure if you had any or the same adjustments though.

Ah I saw it now

Exciting prospects for the both of you: Now you can borrow each other's shoes. - That should save a bit of money!

I know, it's perfect. And since Stefan works in a very well-stocked shoe store whenever I wonder about sizes of brands I'm not sure of I have him go try them on

 

[j ingevaldsson]

I'm in Japan this week, and my first workshop visit was at Clematis Ginza. Really impressed with the shoes, and Keitaro Takano and his closer Chiemi Chiba are lovely people. Don't have to much time to upload phtotos, most will probably come on my blog eventually, but here's some at least. First a few of bespoke samples:
















Clematis new RTW shoes, made in Japan by Joe Works. Looked nice, will be sold at Isetan next year.




Keitaro Takano in the workshop:

 

[VRaivio]



I know, it's perfect. And since Stefan works in a very well-stocked shoe store whenever I wonder about sizes of brands I'm not sure of I have him go try them on 

...as if you "needed" any more shoes in your life or racks

 

[Stefan88]

The sole stitch on Takano-sans shoes is sick. Believe he uses a pricking tool?

 

[j ingevaldsson]

...as if you "needed" any more shoes in your life or racks

Hehe, as if you should..

The sole stitch on Takano-sans shoes is sick. Believe he uses a pricking tool?

Yeah, when he wants, he does some impressive sole stitching. He use a stitch prick yes. I asked him about the spi on the dark navy full brogues, but he didn't know, told me he just does it by feeling.

 

[DWFII]



Yeah, when he wants, he does some impressive sole stitching. He use a stitch prick yes. I asked him about the spi on the dark navy full brogues, but he didn't know, told me he just does it by feeling.

Nice! I've been told that most of the old masters ...the Elder Shoe Gods...did it by eye as well. 18spi (at one time considered "average" for outsole stitching) to 64spi.

 

[j ingevaldsson]

A bunch of pictures of my pair from Hiro Yanagimachi. They are MTO on his new international last, and since that is made after the feet of @Stefan88 who as mentioned above basically is my feet twin, the fit is great. Hiro's MTO shoes are made to the same standard as his bespoke shoes, just on standard lasts (semi bespoke is also available). The level of craftsmanship is superb.




Hiro's international last is very well balanced IMO:













Tapered heel:








Hiro does a real blind welted bevelled waist:




















The shoe trees are made in a Japanese factory:




.