The theme is punk and the evolution of humankind (laughs) -- Gui Yinhu

My dad gave me a pair of Nike sneakers as a gift when I was a child. Back then, none of my friends owned any designer items, so I was incredibly happy. My love for shoes intensified even more when I entered junior high school. Since we had uniforms, the only way to compete in terms of fashion was through our footwear.


The South Korean shoe industry isn't as vibrant as it used to be, but recently several shoe designers have made their debut. Many are based in Seongsu-dong, a district in Seoul lined with shoe factories, and stylish shops are starting to pop up there. It was four years ago that I came to Japan because I wanted to become a designer.


These shoes, with their left and right feet joined together, are inspired by my favorite punk style. I especially love The Blue Hearts. They jump around with both feet together, right? That's what it's all about (laughs).

There's another theme to it: we currently walk with our legs crossed, but that might not be the case forever. Perhaps the evolution of humankind will involve walking on one leg—that's the hypothesis. To give it a futuristic feel, I used mesh and neoprene for the upper and EVA for the sole.

I tried them on, but they seem a bit inconvenient for modern people (lol).