HA KI MO NO: the new project dedicated to Japanese footwear The platform halfway between innovation and traditional craftsmanship arrives in Italy

Over the past few decades, the whole world has discovered the artisanal values and savoir-faire of Japanese fashion. But if already in Europe and in the world everyone knows the quality of Japanese denim or the advanced technology behind the production of technical outwear, the quality of shoemaking of the country and its brands is still a secret for the world – fortunately it only will be for a short time. Since ancient times, Japanese artisans began to experiment with different techniques for leather processing, which then evolved to the field of all leather goods and evolving today in the artisan manufacture of leather shoes that combines cutting-edge technical innovation and traditional craftmanship.

To promote Japan's research footwear brands, therefore, Hakimono was born, a platform designed to bring the footwear culture of Japan all over the world. The brands that are part of the consortium are ten and, although each has its own distinctive identity, they are all united by three general values: sustainability, craftsmanship and functionality.

Sustainability

An incredible example of the union between craftsmanship and functionality is Tokyo Sandal, a brand that designs its shoes on three-dimensional models to optimize their ergonomics and then creates the sole with two layers of leather that is able to naturally stabilize the foot and is inspired by its wood folding technique usually used in the manufacture of skateboards. The designer Takumi Inomata, on the other hand, with his brand U. No. 5 has interpreted the idea of functionality as that of a universal design, composed of a piece of leather that wraps around the foot accompanying its steps and replicating universal design models – the utility therefore becomes that of the customers themselves, who can choose to customize the colors and fits of classic models decorated with a unique artisan touch and designed for life of every day. The Shisei brand, on the other hand, founded by Mariko Yamane, has developed an exclusive model of sole halfway between utility and fashion with Vibram that uses natural rubber for its plastic-free shoes and, above all, uses only leather from the meat industry, 40% of which is certified by the Leather Working Group for sustainable processing standards.