The struggles with shoemaking in Japan
Five or six years ago, it was easy to find young people that wanted to be shoemakers in Japan. The wave of enthusiasm for both craft and menswear elsewhere in the world had washed up here just as strongly. Today, with Covid having only just effecti...
The struggles with shoemaking in Japan
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I have a different opinion on this one. The vast majority of modern man could very likely survive without a suit, jacket or trousers (don't kill me for stating this fact). If my wardrobe burns, I would get RTW jeans, MTM...
Inspiring Japan: The 2023 trip
Last week I was in Japan for 10 days, mainly in Tokyo but also travelling around to Kobe, Osaka and Wakayama prefecture. It was the fourth time I’d been to Japan, but only the third for PS, and one of those had been for only a few days around ...
Inspiring Japan: The 2023 trip
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Thanks Joseh, yes that's just because I'm updating it. It will be ready and then the link will work again in a week or so...
New black bullskin tote, and angled DBs
A new black version of our bullhide tote, a collaboration with Frank Clegg, goes on sale today. It’s available on the Frank Clegg site (not ours) alongside a restock of the dark brown. I shot some pictures of it with Alex last week, and it re...
New black bullskin tote, and angled DBs
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Amazing, thanks Bo. I hope you really enjoy it - and that it provides a nice alternative to the rest of your collection...
The (17) bespoke shoemakers I have known
This article was originally written back in 2014. Back then I had tried seven bespoke shoemakers, and nothing in Japan. Seven years later, the number has more than doubled, and the spread is wider – also encompassing some semi-be...
The (17) bespoke shoemakers I have known
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No worries, always happy to help, just keep on asking questions...
Kenjiro Suzuki bespoke, Paris: Review
Kenjiro Suzuki is a superb technician. I think that’s the key take away from this review, aside from the normal points of fit, style and make. The work that went into this cotton suit he made me is just palpable, both in the handwork visible...
Kenjiro Suzuki bespoke, Paris: Review
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No, between the two, and probably verging more towards the English. There's less padding but still real shape and sharpness to them and the body and make overall...
Yohei Fukuda bespoke shoes: Review
As mentioned in my recent article on Yohei Fukuda, I ordered a pair of bespoke shoes from him last year, when I was in Tokyo. However, I opted for bespoke without a fitting. Why? Well, at the moment I seem to be getting to Tokyo every three years ...
Yohei Fukuda bespoke shoes: Review
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I don't, sorry Ram...
Yohei Fukuda bespoke shoes: The style and shop today
Yohei Fukuda is one of the finest shoemakers in the world. And given his longevity - he set up on his own 12 years ago - he’s been at the forefront of Japan emerging as the primary world force in bespoke. But like many Japanese, it's taken hi...
Yohei Fukuda bespoke shoes: The style and shop today
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Many thanks. Excellent point....
The Japanese Bespoke Symposium, Tokyo
I was more nervous than usual at this, our first Symposium in Japan. Partly I think it was because of the speakers: sitting alongside Kamoshita-san (above) is intimidating for anyone. But mostly it was cultural. I was very conscious of being the onl...
The Japanese Bespoke Symposium, Tokyo
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I don't know of any Dominic, no, and to be fair haven't tried Yamagami's work either. I think it's fair to say that the shoemakers have really stood out for delivering work better than some places they trained with - tha...
Robb Report: The beauty of bags, and Japanese art...
The most recent issue of Robb Report UK included a couple of my pieces: a column singing the praises of good leather accessories, and a feature highlighting the Japanese artisans we visited last year. I have reproduced the column below. The detail ...
Robb Report: The beauty of bags, and Japanese art...
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Definitely dark brown... I know tan is tempting, but brown will be so much subtler and still have a nice deep colour over time...
Japanese shoemakers: Yohei Fukuda, Marquess, Yuki...
There is a bewildering number of shoemakers in Japan, somewhere between 35 and 40 depending on how you count. Although many have people working for them, they are all essentially sole operators. One person founded the house, is in charge, and there ...
Japanese shoemakers: Yohei Fukuda, Marquess, Yuki...
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It wasn't that good if I recall correctly Dominic, but it was a few years ago so I'm not absolutely sure...
