I think it's great that Guidi is able to make special-order boots again this year, with the emphasis on comfort.
Fujii: We had placed the order before Corona (laughs). This time, I am impressed because the people at Guidi in Italy also worked very hard to make these boots. If these boots were what you call "boots to grow into," it might be difficult, but we are making boots that can handle any situation, whether it's raining, snowing, or going to Shibuya. We will be collaborating with several companies this season, including Harley, Converse, New Balance, and ASICS.
Collaboration shoes with New Balance
Collaboration shoes with ASICS
I can sense the usual "non-native" in the way you sit in on these collaborations.
Fujii: Nothing seems strange to you, does it? New Balance" is based on a treerunning model I bought at a local running store in New Zealand last year. I asked New Balance to install Gore-Tex in the boots to differentiate them from the inline models. The ASICS boots are also Gore-Tex. In this day and age, people are walking and running more and more, and I wanted to make sure they looked cool.
Mr. Fujii, you seem to be focusing more on what you want to do and what is necessary.
Fujii: Ah, indeed. Up until now, I have been more inclined to expand, but now I am more conscious of wanting to do so in a more colorful way. I think it is important to work with wholesalers and brands with whom we can have such relationships. It's more like leaning in. In any case, I want the world to move in a healthy direction. Above all, we would like to provide our customers with clothes that are unique to "non-native" without being discouraged ourselves.
