ISETAN Shoe Fair 2019 – The dazzling world of the ISETAN Shoe Fair.
2019.09.01 update

Art born from shoes.

  1. Works based on handmade shoemaking. — Noriyuki Misawa
  2. Creating artwork that "justifies the deterioration" of sneakers. ──SHOETREE/Shoe Tree
  3. To reach new horizons, I deliberately chose the more complicated approach. —Banana Yamamoto
  4. A work born from shoe repair. ──RECOUTURE
These are works that utilize shoemaking techniques, or that use shoes as a motif or material. We introduce unique pieces that will be exhibited at the ISETAN Shoe Fair.


Works based on handmade shoemaking. — Noriyuki Misawa



Noriyuki Misawa

Born in Miyagi Prefecture in 1980, he spent approximately 10 years training in shoemaking in Japan and Europe before establishing "MISAWA & WORKSHOP" in 2011. To date, he has held five exhibitions both domestically and internationally, and has received high praise from overseas.


Since becoming an independent bespoke shoemaker, Misawa has been creating artwork alongside shoemaking. "I was creating works that couldn't be expressed with classic men's shoes," says Misawa. Initially, many of his pieces were time-consuming and labor-intensive, but he felt a difference between effort and skill and artistic expression, and recently he has been creating more works that move away from a craft-oriented approach. "I'm always thinking about what kind of shoemaking-based artwork only I can create."


This piece is inspired by the work of American designer/illustrator Syd Mead, known for his art direction in films such as "Blade Runner." It uses thick leather, typically used for shoe soles, shaped to create curves. Gold leaf is used in some parts.


The soles of the shoes are embossed with images of two instruments, a fiddle (violin) and a guitar, along with the musicians. The footprints themselves can also be used as prints. The relationship between rhythm, music, and shoes is succinctly expressed. The uppers feature designs inspired by stringed instruments. A collaboration with world-renowned artist Don Kilpatrick III.



Creating artwork that "justifies the deterioration" of sneakers. ──SHOETREE/Shoe Tree



Kosuke Sugimoto
Born in Tokyo in 1985. After studying design at a junior college, and gaining experience in flower shops and apparel, she began creating works using sneakers at the end of 2016. Her work has been exhibited in numerous shops and other venues.


The idea was playful: how to create value in things that might be considered trash. The resulting theme was "justifying deterioration." Sneakers that had become unwearable due to hydrolysis were used and regenerated in conjunction with plants. Moss was placed to match the design of the upper, as if it had been eroded, embodying the image of shoes left abandoned in a forest. A new vase-shaped "KICKVASE" was introduced at this year's ISETAN Shoe Fair.


The "KICKVASE," a vase-shaped piece created for the ISETAN Shoe Fair, features moss for the green parts and burnt paulownia wood for the platform on which the shoes rest. Inside the legs, which are represented using a mannequin, there is a glass container where plants can be arranged.


A variation of the KICKVASE. Cut flowers were intentionally displayed to clearly show that it is a vase. Previously, many works featured small potted plants, but this vase shape allows for a wider variety of ways to enjoy it, as the impression changes greatly depending on the flowers used.


To reach new horizons, I deliberately chose the more complicated approach. —Banana Yamamoto



Yuya Kano
Born in Chiba Prefecture in 1987. Her distinctive artist name is an adaptation of her beloved dog's name, used for her Instagram account. Her unique style has garnered attention not only in Japan but also internationally.

This is her third year working as a "pointillist." Her previous job was as a nursery school teacher, a profession she chose after being inspired by the works of Kenjiro Haitani, in order to gain a child's sensibility. She then began painting in search of a broader perspective and new experiences. "I chose pointillism because it's the least comfortable and most troublesome method for me. I thought that by doing so, I might be able to go further and it might become more interesting," says Banana Yamamoto. She spends more than six hours a day making dots, and an A4-sized work is completed in about a week. There is a sense of awe in the artist's words, "It's about doing it overwhelmingly."



This pointillist artwork, featuring leather shoes, was specially created for the ISETAN Shoe Fair. Unlike the sneakers he has drawn many times in the past, he said, "The smooth, glossy surface was difficult to work with." Two other leather shoe artworks are also planned for display.


The collage was created after the exhibition was decided when the artist had already drawn 51 pairs of sneakers, and then the news of Ichiro's retirement came along. The artist chose sneakers as a motif because it is something that can be understood regardless of age or nationality.


A work born from shoe repair. ──RECOUTURE





Shun Hirose, Representative of 'Ricouture'
Born in Tokyo in 1986. He became interested in shoe repair while in university, dropped out, and worked at a shoe repair shop before becoming independent in 2014. In 2019, he moved his shop to Shibuya.


Recouture's main business is repairing shoes, including sneakers. However, what they pursue is craftsmanship based on repair techniques and methods. "We don't just want to restore things to their original state, but to repair them in a way that develops them into something new. Through various experiments, we create new works and customization methods," says Shun Hirose, the representative of Recouture. The shoes in which they attach soles to familiar sneakers using the stitchdown technique embody the intention of combining genuine parts with genuine parts.


These sneakers feature an upper made from vintage Japanese clothing. The outsole uses a Vibram sole, and leather parts are incorporated, all sewn together using a stitch-down construction method. This method was originally developed in response to customer requests.


This custom sole, featuring significantly protruding sides, was devised at the request of a stylist. At the ISETAN Shoe Fair, they plan to exhibit works created using this customization method with old shoes.

Photo: Toru Oshima, Takao Ohta (portrait)

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