The "British Fair" will be held from Wednesday, March 6th to Tuesday, March 12th on every floor Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building . Yosuke Kagami, the buyer at Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building , who is well-versed in British craftsmanship, will highlight two of the most noteworthy topics at this event. First, he will discuss British-made shoes, which he is in charge of. He will introduce famous British shoe brands, featuring them from three directions—"upgrade," "update," and "revival"—in line with the trends and needs of modern fashion.

1. A "dressy upgrade" of a classic shoe.

"When I considered what constitutes the ultimate dressy shoe, these two pairs came to mind. First, EDWARD GREEN 's 'Chelsea 202' uses cordovan leather, which is popular in Japan, allowing it to achieve an elegant look simply through its lustrous leather quality."

And with Crockett & Jones' "Cavendish 3," which played a role in giving tassel loafers popularity in Japan, they've taken it a step further with an upgrade.

"This model also uses cordovan leather, but for the first time in the Cavendish 3, we've opted for a hand-grade specification. This allows for a hidden channel design where the stitching on the outsole isn't exposed, resulting in a more elegant look, and also means that higher-grade materials are used for the internal structure. Furthermore, our CEO, Jonathan, suggested we go even further and incorporate a Cuban heel (pitched heel). The purple lining further enhances the elegant British mood."

2. Updating casual shoes to suit modern fashion styles.

While the two brands mentioned earlier "upgraded" to a dressier style, Kagami says that "updating" was the key word for Tricker's .

" Tricker's is most known for its full brogue shoes, but we thought it would be nice to have a shoe that's like a sibling to that, and that's how this project started. Furthermore, while the heavy Tricker's shoes are popular in winter, their popularity tends to decline in spring and summer, so we wanted to create a shoe that could be worn during the spring and summer seasons as well. That's how we came up with the idea of a wingtip shoe, and one with a T-strap that includes a heel."

This T-strap shoe, which is unusual for Tricker's , is actually a shoe that goes very well with current fashion trends.

"These days, we're seeing a lot of outfits that are chic, but with a pop of color from the feet to add an accent. In fact, mid-gauge colored and patterned socks are selling very well in the sock section, and young people are wearing socks with Gurkha sandals even in autumn and winter. This product has also been 'updated' so that it can be enjoyed throughout the year."

And the other "updated" shoe is a modern reinterpretation of Tricker's iconic "Monkey Boot."

"The 'Monkey Boots' are a signature piece of the brand, but they haven't been worn much in spring and summer. By shortening them and creating the 'Monkey Shoes,' we've 'updated' them so they can be worn all year round, just like the T-strap shoes. Apparently, there was a similar type of low-cut shoe called the 'Sneaker Face Shoes' in the past. It seems they were planned around the 70s or 80s when sneakers started to become popular, but they haven't received much attention for a while."

3. Their unique sense of style, with its twist, has led to a "revival" across generations.

"And Barker Black is the only brand we've featured today that hasn't been altered in any way. You could even call it a pure 'revival.' Barker Black was started by a designer who previously worked for a famous American traditional brand, as a fashionable alternative to BARKER . For those who have known the brand for a long time, it evokes a sense of nostalgia, but surprisingly, it seems to appear very fresh to younger generations who are picking it up for the first time. The unique sensibility that the designer cultivated at the traditional brand—adding a twist to the basics—is still resonating with young people across generations."

How about enjoying the shoes of renowned brands featured from three different perspectives at the British Fair: an "upgrade" of classic dress shoes, an "update" of a well-known casual shoe master, and a "revival" of a trendsetter that once took the world by storm?

[The exciting second part will be released today at 6 PM!]
► "British Fair": What is the philosophy behind HENRY POOLE the standout bespoke tailor on Savile Row? | British Fair Special Feature [Part 2]