The Best Footwear from Spring / Summer 2022 Vol.1
This is a series of articles about the stories behind fashion products and things that go on behind the scenes, delivering with a bit of a scathing perspective but with a love of products. Atsuo Watanabe, editor-in-chief of PRODISM magazine, Yukihisa Takei, editor-in-chief of HONEYEE.COM, and Takuya Raita, a stylist, choose a theme each time and talk about the products we have selected. We have picked out the best footwear for Spring / Summer 2022 from 5 brands.
Edit&Text : Atsuo Watanabe（PRODISM）&Yukihisa Takei（HONEYEE.COM）
Styling : Takuya Raita
Photo : Kengo Shimizu
visvim
FBT LHAMO-FOLK
“I think they should be considered to be luxury shoes” (Watanabe)
Takuya Raita (R): These are the new FBTs that visvim has been producing since the early days of the brand.
Yukihisa Takei (T): So it's been around 15 years?
Atsuo Watanabe (W): I think it's even earlier than that. The sole of this FOLK model is not the EV type like other normal sneakers, but a thinner type with Visvim’s original Vibram sole on the outsole. I like them as they are comfortable to wear.
R: The upper is made of very fine German deer leather.
W: I think this leather will look better over time and give an additional charm as you wear them.
T: Are these the highest quality grade ones among FBT?
R: Yes, and these are made from a single piece of leather.
T: The white ones seem to be better considering the ageing atmosphere over the years.
W: Perhaps they are the kind of shoes that should be worn by those people who don't really care about getting them dirty. I think they should be considered to be luxury shoes. I would choose this finest FBT with the same feeling of buying other high-end brand shoes. I think it is s worth that much.
The moccasin "FBT" series has been continuously updated since the visvim brand was founded. For this season, the uppers are made of a single piece of vegetable tanned German deerskin. The outsole is made of Vibram, a slip-resistant, non-fatiguing material, with EVA cushioning for comfort in urban environments.
visvim
FBT LHAMO-FOLK ¥132,000
F.I.L. TOKYO
TEL : 03-5778-3259
C.E
CAV SHOES
“It would look really cool if Sukeshin-san himself wore them” (Watanabe)
R: These are C.E's first original shoes and are waterproof with eVent. The insole is very C.E-like.
W: I thought Sukeshin-san (Sk8thing) would make more loud shoes, but these are unexpectedly understated designs. Yet they have a very high-tech feel, so it's a good balance.
T: I wondered if these insoles and stitching are reflectors at first, but they're not. I thought Sukeshin-san might do it, even you can hardly see them (laughs).
R: You can't tell at a glance which brand it is, but if you see the embroidery on the heel from the cuff of the trousers, you’ll be like, “They're C.E.?”. It's good to have something like that.
T: If you don't know they are from C.E., they might look like just golf shoes, but they are exquisite in that way.
W: Is there any original model of these shoes? They seem somehow classic and sporty.
R: Apparently they’re inspired by the shoes made by a certain Italian luxury brand's sports line in the 1990s.
T: But again it's really surprising, I was expecting a more loud design because it's C.E.
R: The collaboration with NIKE was more eye-catching.
W: It would look really cool if Sukeshin-san himself wore them. Also, they would go well with the modern styling something like wide trousers.
R: It could work with denim, too. They look like sneakers at a glance, but they are more like shoes.
W: Shoes like these, which you can't really tell if they are sneakers or leather shoes are interesting. By the way, how much are these?
R: They’re 33,000 yen.
T: If you think they’re high-tech shoes that use Vibram soles and eVent, it's totally reasonable.
R: It would be nice to be able to wear these on a rainy day.
C.E's first original shoes. The upper is made of a combination of grain leather and Cordura nylon, with a form that has a somewhat familiar look. Vibram soles are used for the outsole and waterproof breathable material eVent is used for the inside of the shoes. Available in black and beige. Two new colours, grey and green, are to be released in May.
C.E
CAV SHOES ¥33,000
https://www.cavempt.com
nonnative × ECCO
EXOHIKE WITH GORE-TEX®︎
“ECCO is actually a great company” (Takei)
W: It's my first time to see the actual product.
T: They’re quite heavy when you hold them.
R: It's got a Michelin sole, so it's slip-resistant.
T: ECCO is actually a great company. They're considered to be one of the comfort shoe companies, but I've heard that they're also a world-leading shoe and clothing material development company. That's why it makes sense that they collaborate with a fashion brand that has great design skills.
W: Then a collaboration with a brand like nonnative is probably the right choice. The good sides of each other match up.
T: It would be good for ECCO's branding, especially by working with someone like Fujii-san from nonnative who is honest or particular about things.
W: Well, the more I look at them, the cooler they are.
R: It's really just right when you want a nice pair of boots. And, also they're GORE-TEX®.
W: Personally, I don't wear high top shoes very often, so I would have liked them to be available in the low top version.
T: The chunky heels are eye-catching, aren't they? I wonder if it also has some kind of stability function.
R: They're ergonomically designed, so it could be.
W: It's very nonnative to use suede for these kinds of high-tech shoes.
R: These seem to sell very well.
The first-ever collaboration between Danish shoemaker ECCO and nonnative. Based on ECCO's EXOHIKE trekking boots, combining different leather and nylon materials to create a one-tone color gradation. A high-performance pair equipped with the latest ECCO technology as well as the waterproof and breathable GORE-TEX®.
nonnative × ECCO
EXOHIKE WITH GORE-TEX®︎ ¥42,900／nonnative × ECCO
vendor
TEL 03-6452-3072
UGG® x N.HOOLYWOOD COMPILE
UGG® x N.HOOLYWOOD CA805 Slide
“N.HOOLYWOOD is very much urban after all” (Raita)
R: These are from the third collaboration between N.HOOLYWOOD and UGG®.
T: The soles of UGG® shoes are becoming HOKA ONE ONE ONE like recently, maybe because they’re under the same company (Deckers) (laughs).
W: But that's a very thick sole - is it a genuine UGG sole?
R: I think it probably is. But I can totally see it’s the Deckers group (laughs). There are a lot of slip-on type shoes without heels this year. Various brands are releasing them. These look particularly easy to walk in and go well with dressy styles.
T: I think UGG® was struggling with a spring/summer product range as they have a strong brand impression of mouton boots. So I feel like they're rebranding themselves with HOKA soles.
W: They also use these high-tech soles these days, and the brand image of UGG® has changed over the past few years.
T: But which part of these are N.HOOLYWOOD like?
R: The upper is designed by N.HOOLYWOOD.
W: It looks good for the coming season and you can probably imagine a style that dares to match it with dressy outfits.W: It looks good for the coming season and I can imagine wearing these with dressy outfits.
R: N.HOOLYWOOD is very much urban after all.
N.HOOLYWOOD and UGG® have teamed up again for their third collaboration. These slip-on shoes have been designed to suit also dressy styles such as matching clothes. The UGG® rubber sole provides excellent cushioning, while the original upper is made of high-quality suede with recycled polyester (approx. 45%) mesh lining.
UGG® x N.HOOLYWOOD COMPILE
UGG® x N.HOOLYWOOD CA805 Slide ¥22,000
Mister hollywood
TEL : 03-5414-5071
ENGINEERED GARMENTS × SEBAGO
Boat Shoes - Combo
“I imagine it would be very tough to produce a large quantity of this stuff” (Raita)
R: This is the latest release from the second collaboration between Engineered Garments and Sebago. This is the first time they've made a pair of deck shoes, but it looks like they're made of a mix of different materials. The mix and match pattern on the left and right sides is the key point of this exclusive model.
T: You're right! The materials are slightly different on each side. I haven't really seen Sebago recently but it takes me back and I like it.
R: The brand is unwavering when it comes to making products.
W: Rather than Sebago, these are the shoes people would buy because they are a collab with Engineered Garments. These will look good with shorts.
R: Definitely, I'd do styling with shorts, too.
W: If you wear wide-hemmed Gurkha shorts or something like that with them, it would give an African feel that is Engineered Garments' seasonal theme.
R: It's a mix of about four different types of leather. I imagine it would be very tough to produce a large quantity of this stuff.
W: These are a great example of Engineered Garments' attitude that pays attention to details.
The third collaboration from Engineered Garments and Sebago, a long-established American company known for its deck shoes. Based on Sebago's iconic 80s two-hole boat moccasins, the detailed production works perfectly by replacing the outer leather and suede in the same color with different shades of color for each side. The colors also match the seasonal theme of "Africa".
ENGINEERED GARMENTS × SEBAGO
Boat Shoes - Combo ¥42,900
Engineered Garments
TEL 03-6419-1798
(From left to right) Atsuo Watanabe, Editor-in-Chief of PRODISM, Takuya Raita, Stylist, Yukihisa Takei, HONEYEE.COM)
Atsuo Watanabe / Editor-in-Chief, PRODISM
Born in 1973. After working as an editor for Asayan and Huge, he became a freelance editor and launched the product-focused magazine PRODISM in 2013, where he continues to work as the editor in chief. He is well versed in men's fashion, sneakers, and streetwear, and has a unique aesthetic.
Takuya Raita / Stylist
Born in 1986. Having assisted for Hiroyuki Kai, he became independent in 2012. While working mainly for men's fashion magazines, he is also known for his product styling that sensitively incorporates trends. Currently looking for an assistant.
Yukihisa Takei / HONEYEE.COM
Born in 1972. After working as an editor of the magazine EYESCREAM, he became the editor-in-chief of HONEYEE.COM, but resigned after one year. After working as a freelance editor and creative director for various brand websites and media launches, he returned to his post as editor-in-chief of HONEYEE.COM in the fall of 2021.