CASE 03 Nostalgic and fresh. Sneakers that make you feel strange .
PROFILE
Born in Tokyo, Japan, he joined "Text Trading Company" in 2007. After working mainly in planning and buying at the sneaker store "atmos," he became independent in 2018. In May of the same year, he opened "MFC STORE" in Nakameguro, a store that develops and offers only what they like. Since then, they have opened stores in Harajuku, Osaka, and Nagoya, for a total of 4 stores.
Instagram: @hiroto_kondo
Kondo-san, you have been in the sneaker industry for many years.
Kondo:The high-tech craze has died down a bit, hasn't it? Personally, I like low-tech, and so does everyone in our store. The goodness of the classics is still strong, and that is what we are trying to emphasize at the "MFC STORE" as well. Basically, we mainly carry "PUMA SUEDE" and other "PUMA" items. All of our staff members wear these sneakers. The "PUMA SUEDE" has a solid style, and I think it is an irreplaceable item. It is a great product, and I feel its universal beauty.
Why are you so particular about "PUMA SUEDE"?
Kondo:This may be a personal story, but when I was in elementary and junior high school, there was a mood that anyone who wore "PUMA SUEDE" was "cool," and people who really stood out in their hometowns were wearing them. That was my original experience, and I have been wearing them since I was a teenager. The feeling I had back then has not disappeared even when I grew up. The items themselves have their own style, and they are still loved as much as ever.
Kondo's style is to leave the laces untied for easy on/off.
Do they have anything in common?
Kondo:Many people are not playing with trends and wear what they really like. PUMA SUEDE" is authentic, and because of that , it is easy to match with anything. . On the other hand, you can play with colors. I think the fact that it can be worn with any style is a big attraction.
How many pairs have you worn so far?
Kondo:I think I have more than 20 pairs. I used to wear only black shoes until a little while ago, but now I am wearing ivory, and I like the calmness of the color. There was a time when gum-soled shoes were popular, and they remind me a little of those days. It is nostalgic and fresh at the same time, and it gives me a strange feeling. I like that they are not too casual. But it's not too formal either. I personally like the way the crepe sole is removed from the shoe.
What did you keep in mind when coordinating?
Kondo:I matched them with our original item called "Dobon Pants. We designed and made wide pants that go well with sneakers, but if they are too thick, the hems will drag. So, we made the hem drawcord so that it can be tied down. Even if you don't tie them down, they are set at a nine-part length, so I don't think they will drag unless you wear them on your waist. They are also popular among our customers, and we are collaborating with Dickies on a new collaboration, so we decided to mix and match with that model.
I thought the combination of green and ivory was new to me , but they go very well together.
Kondo:Yes . You used green in the logo on the shoe tan, didn't you? I'm picking up on that color, so I think it goes together nicely. Green and ivory was also my personal mood.
SUEDE IGNITE RON ENGLISH
You also brought your personal "PUMA SUEDE" with you this time.
Kondo:I planned this project myself when I was working at atmos. I think it was 4 years ago. We were going to have a stall at an event called "New York Comic Con," and I made shoes to be sold there. It was a collaboration involving four companies, so it was a lot of work to make it happen, but it turned out to be a memorable experience. It was a collaboration involving four companies, so it was a lot of work to make it happen, but it has become a very memorable item.
It's a very playful design.
Kondo:. I was allowed to do various things I wanted to do. The person in charge at Puma was very understanding and made a lot of effort. They even made things happen that would have been impossible. Everyone at "PUMA" is really passionate about what they do. They work with such love for their brand, and we can feel it in their work. Working with such a brand makes us feel good and gets us fired up.
Lastly, what is the appeal of "PUMA" from a store's point of view?
Kondo:I like your attitude of doing things that other brands don't do, even though you are an international brand. You have planned "made in Japan" shoes, and you have many models that originate from Japan. We would like to take up such unique aspects and present them in our stores. On the other hand, we also support athletes and collaborate with artists such as Rihanna on collections. The range of their collections is very wide and interesting. It is a brand that I would like to continue to push.
