Mita Sneakers' Hideyuki Kunii – A fusion of traditional "flavor" and modern "functionality"

 

Kunii : "I didn't have any preconceived notions because I only knew the brand by name, but the sample that Yahagi-san brought was very modern, the silhouette was perfect, and the coloring and materials were kept minimal, making it a shoe that would appeal to everyone... But it made me wonder, where is Panther's identity?"

They were simple, monochrome sneakers. While they were based on domestic manufacturing and a retro mood, Kunii saw through them and realized they were something entirely different, merely borrowing the name of the former Panther.

Kunii : "Since it's a brand with a long history, it would be best to faithfully reproduce the original design. However, the look should be authentic, while the comfort should be contemporary. I wondered if it would be right to keep the comfort and fit the same as in the past just because it's a shoe from the past, so I suggested using a footbed made of functional materials. I also pointed out things like wanting samples of this color and that color made by flipping through the catalogs from that time, and that there shouldn't be any color on the cut parts."

"PANTHER GT DELUXE" 16,200 yen

The second and third samples were produced, and each time, Yahagi and Kunii felt that they were finally creating something they could be proud of. The factory in Fukushima, which still relied on the same manual labor as in the Showa era, was steadily bringing the two men's vision to life. Thus, in the spring of 2016, their dream of reviving classic Japanese sneakers became a reality.

Kunii : "These athletic shoes were sold at schools, so they're very grounded and closely tied to the everyday lives of Japanese people. The way they're made and the color schemes reflect the times, and I reaffirmed that the Showa era background is what makes them uniquely Panther."

The insoles utilize OrthoLite cup insoles. The thin outsole, deliberately chosen to maintain the original appearance, is effectively absorbed by the insoles, ensuring excellent walking performance. The pinked (jagged-cut) suede parts have white edges that remain undyed. This is because the suede leather used employs an older dyeing method that does not involve core dyeing (a dyeing technique that penetrates the dye all the way through). Modern technology ensures that the color penetrates the leather completely, so this would not be possible. Every detail, down to the leather dyeing process, has been meticulously recreated to reproduce the unique character of vintage sneakers.


Kunii : "From a common-sense perspective, you might think that reproducing old products is easy. After all, you just have to make what originally existed again. But actually, it's the opposite. There are surprisingly many things that were commonplace in the past that can no longer be done because of a lack of materials, machinery, or technological advancements. It's the same with clothing. Creating something that has a correct answer is extremely difficult, and I think Yahagi-san really did a great job. Lately, there's a tendency to strangely praise Japan, saying that Japanese products are wonderful or that they have value because they're made in Japan, but personally, I don't think there's any meaning in that. Rather, I think that because this Panther was made domestically, we were able to create a highly refined product that appeals to all five senses."

NEXT≫A Trial as a Fashion Sneaker──WISM・Tomohiro Ichinose