Style 03
Ryota Yamada x IRISH SETTER 6" MOC-TOE #8875
PROFILE
. Born in 1980. After graduating from Bunka Fashion College , she joined a major select store. After working in sales, he studied under stylist Hiroshi Ozawa. 2007, he became independent and is currently active in various media. He has a family philosophy on shoes, and values his own standards more than trends.
. It's very basic as a shoe, so it has the strength to go with anything.
I would like to know what is going on with your feet these days, Yamada-san.
Yamada: I've been wearing sneakers all my life. . I've been wearing sneakers ever since my child was born, and the trend has become even stronger since then.
I have the impression that you are wearing the classic sneakers that everyone is familiar with, the vulcanized sneakers.
Yamada: . yes, I do. I may prefer sneakers with less volume. . . but it is not that I don't wear high-tech items at all. However, it is not that I don't wear high-tech items at all, but my sense of "I have to wear these now" has waned with age, and I choose what fits my mood at the time from among my standard items.
What do you see as the trend in shoes?
Yamada: . I still feel that sneakers are gaining momentum. Rather than a trend, I feel that a separate scene has been created. There are collectors, and among them, rare sneakers are very popular. But in the end, you can't wear such items for many years. It's like, "You're going to wear those now? I feel embarrassed to wear them now.
Do you feel the excitement of the boots?
Yamada: If sneakers were so exciting, there would be a backlash against them. . I also feel that more and more people want to wear shorts and the like. However, Red Wing is now positioned as a standard, so I don't think there will be any negative effects from wearing them.
. Because it is a classic, it fits in well with the city.
Yamada: Yes, it is. That's why I say you can buy them at any time. Even if you lay it down, it won't hydrolyze like a sneaker.
When did you first wear Red Wing shoes?
Yamada: My grandmother bought me my first pair of boots as a gift for entering high school. That was my first pair of boots. My grandparents' house was near Kichijoji, and there was a Red Wing store there.
Did you want it?
Yamada: I wanted it so badly. It was the influence of a magazine. I think it was "Boom" magazine. It was the 90s, and PUFFY, Tamio Okuda, and Hama-chan from Downtown were wearing them. I admired them with vintage denim. Later, I started working at "BEAMS," and there was always a "Red Wing" in the shoe section, and all the staff had them.
Have you not worn them since then?
Yamada: I bought an "Irish Setter" in Kichijoji , and I think I had it on hand for about 10 years.
. You mean it's durable enough to last 10 years.
Yamada: Yes, it is really well made. I like the fact that the price is reasonable for what it is. . I remember when I first started wearing them, I used to put a lot of mink oil on them. I may have learned about "mink oil" and other terms through Red Wing. I was taught, "You must buy mink oil.
. Also, when I was a student, I once went to a vintage clothing store called "Real Monkey" in Sendai. I was impressed by the fact that all the staff there wore boots. It is especially cold in the Tohoku region in winter, and sneakers are unreliable. I was impressed by the practicality of the boots.
What is your impression of Red Wing?
Yamada: I guess it is a standard. . I think there are surprisingly few things in the world that can be called "standard. It is really nice to be able to buy the same thing anytime. And this is even more true for a boot manufacturer. That's why I hope they will always be there.
It seems that more and more people are wearing "Red Wing" shoes these days.
Yamada: I have a feeling that's the case. . and I saw a senior stylist wearing them recently. If that person is wearing them, they may be amazing in two years.
You are wearing "Irish Setter" this time, how do you feel after wearing them all the way back to the 90's?
Yamada: They have an unchanging coolness to them. I sometimes see old men wearing them, and it's fascinating to see how they have changed over time. The wrinkles and the bite that appear when they are worn. They are very basic shoes, so they have the strength to go with anything. However, I still want to wear them in a modern way.
What did you keep in mind when coordinating your outfits this time?
Yamada: . I actually lost track of it once (laughs). I tried wearing a sweatshirt and a coat, but it was too ordinary and uninteresting for me. I had a western suit, and when I tried it on, it became too formal this time.
So I thought it would be nice to pair it with a small clean item , so I paired it with these slacks. . and a clean shirt over it.
A mix of vintage and current items seems to go well with the "Irish Setter" look.
Yamada: Yes, that's right . I don't want to combine only vintage music (laughs). But that's because we have passed through the 90's, and I think it's possible for young people today to wear such combinations. I think it would be great if they were wearing a velour ska-jacket with a T-shirt, jeans like Levi's® 517, and Irish setters on their feet. . I would also add a little 70's element to it.
Compared to the plain toe, some people may find the moc toe more difficult to wear. What advice would you give to those people?
Yamada: . I think they should be worn like moccasins or deck shoes. . I think this kind of earthy or country feel is cute, though.
Lastly, if you were a stylist, what would you suggest for a styling session?
Yamada: I would like to propose tailored clothes to go with them. Rather than classic clothes, functional clothes made of synthetic fibers or sharp clothes like Prada's would go well with them. It would be cool to add vintage clothes to a high-end brand.
IRISH SETTER 6" MOC-TOE #8875 ¥37,900+TAX
Originally, the prototype was the 8-inch length "#877" made for work hunting. From there, various variations were created, and as they evolved, the "#8875" was born, using the reddish-brown "Oloracet Portage" leather, which is the color that symbolizes the "Irish Setter" brand. The moccasin-type toe is roomy and allows for easy fingertip movement, making this pair highly comfortable and appealing.
