Tokyo Kimono Shoes founder Shotaro Kawamura on making Japan’s quintessential icons sustainably fashionable for the world
A nine-year stint in a logistics company alerted Shotaro Kawamura to a disquieting observation: Japanese electronics brands were being gradually edged out by Korean and Chinese counterparts. “I know that we have a lot of good assets and products and a priceless cultural heritage to be proud of. I personally feel that it is our duty to advertise them to the world,” he said.
His muse? The kimono.
Once a part of daily attire, the elaborately handwoven silk creations now make very few public appearances, being commissioned and worn for specific occasions such as graduation ceremonies or weddings. Eventually, the kimonos are relegated to wardrobes and added to the landfill. Approximately 500,000 tonnes of kimonos valued at more than 30 trillion yen are discarded each year. “Definitely not trash,” Sho thought. And so, in October 2022, he embarked on his mission: to revive the sleeping beauty of Japan by weaving the beautiful kimonos into leather sneakers and showcasing them to the world.
A year on, the logistics executive-turned-entrepreneur appears to have found the right fit. More than 2,200 pairs of Tokyo Kimono Shoes have been snapped up, with a growing fan base across Asia, UK and Europe.'
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The Artisan Shoemaker
Tokyo Kimono Shoes are truly bespoke, with the limited fabric lending itself to the exclusivity. Each kimono only renders 15 to 20 pairs of sneakers, and the kimono sash (called the obi) produces up to four pairs.
“No two pairs are alike, in fact not even two shoes are completely identical,” Sho said proudly. “Each leather footwear is handmade by artisans with 70 years of shoemaking craftsmanship. We have six artisans in Asakusa district, Tokyo, who altogether produce about 100 pairs of shoes per month,” adding that they have a two-month lead time from the order to international delivery.