PROFILE
. Born in 1987. He became fascinated with leather shoes through vintage clothing, and entered the world of shoe repair. After gaining experience in several repair stores, he became the Product Maintenance Manager for Red Wing in Asia in 2021. He offers repair services that go beyond mere repairs, responding to the owner's needs and bringing out the owner's individuality.
I want to go above and beyond what is expected of those who need help.
Please tell us about the "OUT OF FASHION" campaign that you have released this time.
Ota:I think people who have developed their own style without being influenced by the times or trends are attractive to everyone, and this campaign focuses on such people. We at Red Wing have been making the same items for a long time without worrying about trends. In other words, we have a true style that cannot be summed up by the word "fashion. We call it "OUT OF FASHION" and praise them for having an unchanging style.
Red Wing was founded in 1905, and has been a big company for over 100 years, but you have continued to make timeless items since then.
Ota:The prototype of the moc-toe boots lined up here was made a long time ago , and I think that's a great thing. Moreover, they can be repaired repeatedly, so they can be worn permanently. I think that's the secret of the unchanging style, and at the same time, I think it's a sustainable thing.
Ota-san, have you always been fond of shoes?
Ota:I have been in the shoe repair business since I was 23 years old. I love shoes themselves, but I also love repairing them.
I have always loved vintage clothing, and from there I became fascinated with old leather shoes and boots. When I was still a student, I heard a story about a guy who worked at a thrift store who took a pair of worn-out boots in his hands and said, "There is a guy who can restore these boots to their former glory. I had never seen anyone repairing shoes, much less met a craftsman who could do it, but for some reason I was fascinated by the idea. That one comment sparked my interest in the world of shoe repair and restoration, and that is how I came to be where I am today.
I see that you are more interested in repairing things rather than making them.
Ota:. I'm not really interested in designing things. Rather, I want to go above and beyond what is expected of someone who needs help with a broken shoe or something. I want to please someone with pinpoint accuracy, rather than just please everyone.
