Case 04_Milk Tea Meister With KITCHE
The versatility of these shoes, which can be worn in the kitchen or in public, is what makes them so appealing.PROFILE
Born in 1985. After working at a select store, he started working at a coffee shop. After becoming independent, he established "MILKTEA SERVICE" in 2018. He provides milk tea catering services mainly in Tokyo.
810s KITCHE ¥5,000+TAX
How did MILKTEA SERVICE start?
Sudo:I started as an independent from the coffee shop where I originally worked. I was mainly in charge of catering there, so I decided to do the same with MILKTEA SERVICE without a storefront.
The "MILKTEA SERVICE" logo is based on a six-panel cap. I thought it would be just right since we use six kinds of tea leaves," says Sudo. Incidentally, the cap is drawn from directly above, "the way it looks when you bow in gratitude," he says.
It's an unlikely idea to have milk tea instead of coffee, isn't it?
Sudo:That may be so. Our milk tea is made from a blend of six different types of tea leaves. It took us about three months of research on how to blend them, how to pour hot water, and other factors to create a tea that we are satisfied with. But we are confident in the taste because we spent so much time on it. It has a sweet taste, but it has a full-bodied flavor, so it tastes like tea and is not too sweet.
Where do you make your milk tea?
Sudo:If there are a lot of orders, we will rent a place such as a coffee shop or a shared kitchen where we worked. The kitchen floor is very slippery with grease, so these shoes are very useful.
Mr. Sudo says he travels somewhere almost every day. On this particular day, he was catering at a hair salon called "LECO" in Shibuya. He comes here every Wednesday to offer milk tea to customers who come for a haircut.
KITCHE: The model you are wearing now is called "KITCHE," and it was originally made as a kitchen shoe.
Sudo:When I worked in a coffee shop, I wore kitchen shoes similar to these. They didn't slip at all, so I am happy to think that these shoes are the same. When I wear normal shoes, I get very tired because I have to be careful not to slip.
Do you sometimes spill milk tea on your feet when you are working?
Sudo:There are. That's why the shoes I usually wear are quite dirty (laughs). And tea stains are hard to remove.
The shoes have an easy-care upper material that can be wiped clean in a jiffy.
Sudo:That would be nice. Also, I'm on my feet all the time during sales, so I want shoes that don't tire my feet. These shoes satisfy that point, too. The cushioning is very good.
How about the design?
Sudo:It's cool. I'm not a fan of shoes with high-tech, messy designs, but these have a nice, simple, lean design. In my case, I also provide catering services at various places, so the kitchen is not the only place I work. One of my jobs is to go out in front of people for sales, so it's nice to have a sophisticated design like this so I don't have to change shoes every time I go out. I would like to recommend them to my colleagues (laughs).
810s KITCHE
Like "CAF," "KITCHE" is also based on kitchen shoes used in kitchens and food factories. The shoes are designed with a multi-stopper sole that adheres to the floor to prevent slipping even on slippery floors wet with oil or water. The upper is made of easy-care synthetic leather, with a stretch band for easy on/off, and the elegant design is based on the motif of court-style sneakers.
¥5,000+TAX
