CASE 02: Shin Niwa Everyone who bought PUMA SUEDE was hot and fashionable.
PROFILE
Born in 1994 in Hokkaido , Japan. After building a career at a sneaker store, he started the skate brand "Heel Collective" with a friend in 2018. He has attracted attention not only from skaters but also from the highly sensitive youth generation with his rough-design apparel and video works that evoke the current Tokyo street scene.
Instagram: @shin_niwa"at" markheel_collective
What did you envision for today's outfit?
Shin:To be honest, I wasn't conscious of anything. I came dressed as usual (laughs). (laughs) . That's how versatile I think these sneakers are. I don't have to think about anything difficult.
How many pairs of "Puma" shoes do you own?
Shin:I have collected about 15 pairs of sneakers, including those other than the PUMA SUEDE. I used to work in a sneaker store before I started "Heel Collective," so I had a lot of special-order models.
Q: Working in a sneaker store, you must have seen a variety of sneakers, but what is your impression of PUMA compared to other sports brands?
Shin:While there are many core fans, the brand is loved by a wide range of people. I don't have the concept of wearing skates because I am a skater, and any shoes that look good are fine with me. I was thinking in the same way, and there were many people who picked up "Puma" shoes. And the people who bought them all had style and were fashionable.
Suede Classic +
. Today, you brought your favorite "PUMA SUEDE" with you.
Shin:I bought it about five years ago. It was my first pair of "Puma" shoes. Basically, I play on the street, so I don't wear high-tech sneakers. I have always loved sneakers, and I have more than 100 pairs at home, but they are basically low-tech. . I bought these "PUMA SUEDE" because I was attracted by the classic design. I usually wear navy on my feet.
. Indeed, both the model you are wearing today and Shin's personal items are navy. . It is an orthodox color, but I have the impression that it is difficult to match it with shoes.
Shin:That's what my friends tell me. . But my favorite color is navy, and most of the clothes I own are navy. . So I often match them without thinking about it. Also, when I skate, the uppers tend to peel off, but with navy, it is less noticeable. That's another reason why I choose this color.
Do you find them easy to skate in?
Shin:No problem at all. This "SUEDE VTG" has no stitching on the sole, right? . So you don't have to worry about the threads breaking even if you do tricks repeatedly. Such details are usually checked and selected, and these are also for skaters.
I also like the silhouette. The model I originally had seemed quite long and thin, but this one has a nice roundness to it that I like. I also like the deep navy color. I think they will develop a nice texture as I wear them.
Do you see many skaters wearing them?
Shin:. Whenever I go to the skate park, I always see one of them. . These days, I often see girls wearing thick-soled "PUMA SUEDE" on the streets.
Especially many of them are BMX riders. World champion Yohei Uchino also wears them. When an influential person in the scene is wearing them, everyone follows his/her footsteps.
What do you want "PUMA SUEDE" to be in the future?
Shin:. "PUMA SUEDE" is a classic item that will be loved forever. So I hope they keep it going. . This is so cool, and it's so cool. I hope it will stay as it is because it is a design loved by all people.
