FEATURE | TIE UP

Translated By DeepL

Where shall we go with Karhu and you?
A good day with KARHU

Where shall we go with Karhu and you?

KARHU is a long-established sneaker brand from Finland. One hundred years after its birth, the brand is loved around the world for everything from competitions to town use, and its Scandinavian-inspired design and vivid coloring are also attracting attention as a fashion piece. So, for this issue, we have two good friends, stylists Takeshi Toyoshima and Masashi Sho, who have both gone independent from the same master. We went out on the town with model Mineyu Kotani and hair/makeup artist kika, who are also work colleagues and close friends in their private lives. Wearing these shoes, walking around, laughing with each other, and talking about them with others will surely help you discover new charms of "KARHU".

  • Photo_ Yuki Sakai
  • Hair&Make_kika(Miyu Otani)
  • Text_Takako Nagai (Takeshi Toyoshima × Sho Masashi)
  • Edit_Shun Koda
  • Special Thanks_Artek Tokyo Store, LOU

A gentle design that can be worn without hesitation.

Did you talk to each other beforehand about the styling of today's event?

Teshima:Sho just said, "Pleasure doing business with you!" . and he just contacted me (laughs). But I kind of guessed what kind of styling he would come with.

Sho:I was expecting it too. I thought Mr. Toshima would come in ivory beach pants , but I was wrong.

Teshima:No, you're right, you know what I'm talking about. Actually, I was styling along those lines until about halfway through, but the sneaker's upper is a perfect color transition, don't you think? I thought it would be better to make the most of it.

Sho:So, senior, you decided to dress in exquisite colors (laughs).

The navy "Legacy" is the centerpiece of the one-tone styling. Despite the dark tones, the soft impression is created by the rounded upper and the warm suede switch. The pants are by Cale , and the knit sweatshirt is by John Smedley .

Teshima:Well, I paired it with a slightly different gray (LOL). The pants are a bluish gray, and the knit sweatshirt is a slate gray. At first glance, it looks like nothing, but it is actually very particular, and I thought the casualness would go well with these shoes.

Sho:I'm into Mr. Toshima's usual colorless clothes as they are. I also like the little bit of yellow that works there.

The faded multi-colors of "SYNCHRON" add a soft atmosphere to the clean, sporty and relaxed look of military pants and a fleece top. The voluminous design goes well with a slightly big silhouette.

Ms. Toyoshima blends in with her sneakers, while Mr. Sho's light multi-colors look great.

Teshima:. that's a nice touch. Actually , I thought Sho would come in light colored pants. If I were to wear them, I wanted to wear ivory pants, and I thought Sho would be the same. So navy was a surprise.

Sho:Mr. Toshima , you are right (laughs). . At first, I was thinking of wearing raw-colored pants and keeping the whole body in a light tone. But the color I wear most in real life is navy, so I decided to accentuate the shoes with my own style.

You are indeed former brothers and sisters in arms to be able to say the same thing about both of you (laughs).

Sho:I've known my seniors for a long time! And I was actually out on location today wearing these, and they feel great. They are very comfortable. The laces are slanted, so they fit well and make walking around stress-free.

Teshima:I can tell. And they are cushioned and very light. . . Because of my job, I move around a lot and my feet get sore easily. . That's why I'm most happy with sneakers with well-researched features like these. Sho's styling also looks like it would be easy to spend the whole day in.

Sho:I wanted to create a retro-inspired sneaker and a relaxed mood for the clothing as well. We've talked about how Scandinavian design can be worn in everyday life, and the KARHU is just like that, a stylish pair that you can wear without feeling self-conscious. Today, I'm wearing a pair of cargo pants and a fleece zip-up fleece, as if it were a set-up. This fleece is the kind of workwear for working in the refrigerator that can be worn tough. It has a green cut-out.

Teshima:It's cold in Scandinavia (laughs) . I wonder why the green part is nylon?

Sho:Is it to hold frozen salmon? No, I'll leave it at that. ...... I put it in navy, my favorite color, so it's easy to feel good about it (laughs). And I noticed that these sneakers are awesome and easy to match.

Teshima:. It's certainly a multicolored design, so it could go with any colorful wear. Even if you incorporate it into colorful clothing, it won't make too much of a statement because of its Scandinavian-like neutral color.

Sho:I don't think there is an outfit that this doesn't go with , I think. If your whole body is in pale tones, it's definitely stylish, and if you bring in dark tones, it gives you just the right amount of slack. I always decide on the styling first and choose the shoes last, so in the end, I like to wear something like this that can be easily matched with anything.

. Although the direction of the styling was different today, the commonality was that you matched the clothes with everyday wear as they are.

Teshima:It's true that Sho and I have different types of personal clothing, but today we are both styled as we are.

Sho:. of course, the originality of the design changes from model to model. Of course, the originality of the design changes from model to model, and there is the question of which volume to enjoy, but the presence of soft colors is the common denominator, isn't it? I wonder if that means they blend in naturally with the clothes you have on hand without having to think too much about it.

Teshima:It's amazing that despite its unique design and elaborate construction, it can be easily matched with anything.

Sho:Scandinavian design, like the "Altec" that I was allowed to visit today, is something that I would want in furniture, but I knew that these sneakers would also be a part of my life!

Teshima:Sho, you're back to the beginning (laughs).

INFORMATION

KARHU

Official Site
Instagram:.@karhu_jp

Artek Tokyo Store

Location: 1F and B1F, 5-9-20 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Official Site

LOU

Location: 5-53-4 Nakano, Nakano-ku, Tokyo
Official Site