We were able to tackle custom orders with a different mindset than before.
Q: How did you decide to make a special order of "Classic Leather" this time?
Uchiyama:"Would you like to make a special order? That was the first time we were asked to do a custom order. However, we are not just open to any kind of custom order.
Uchiyama:Actually, this was the first time for the men's section of UNITED ARROWS to work with Reebok. But when they suggested "How about 'Classic Leather'? That was the deciding factor for me. As I mentioned earlier, it was because I can wear sneakers with a feeling similar to leather shoes. UNITED ARROWS" carries a wide range of items, from classic dress wear to sporty items, and I thought they would go well with that lineup.
I see. So when you started working on this project, what was the first place you started?
Uchiyama:But, you see.... Despite my cheerful response, I was at a loss as to where to start.... When I looked at the original "classic leather" from various angles for the special order, I realized that it was a model so complete that there was no way to modify it.
Then I decided to cool my head and think about it. Then, I had a flash of inspiration.
What was the inspiration?
Uchiyama:When I place a special order for leather shoes, I think about things such as the color of stitching, subtle differences in materials, whether to use waxed flat or round laces, and what specifications to use for the outsole. When I decided to think of a special order for "classic leather" in the same way, I came up with this design surprisingly easily.
Uchiyama:Reebok" is a British brand, and "classic leather" in particular has an atmosphere similar to that of leather shoes. When I reviewed them from that perspective, I thought that white was definitely the right color. I wanted to create a sneaker that was clean and elegant, but also had a relaxed look when styled.
However, I think there are some people who are a little embarrassed to wear all-white sneakers. I'm actually like that myself (laughs). I don't want them to get dirty, but I also don't want them to be completely white. When I thought about how to solve this concern, I thought that using different leather materials would add contrast and make them look less plain when you put them on and take them off.
When I think about special orders for sneakers, the first thing I think about is what kind of coloring and how much pop I want to create, but I was able to think about this in a different direction, and it turned out to be a very fun custom order once I opened the lid.
So you use your head in a different way than before.
Uchiyama:Yes, that's right. I really used the same mindset as when thinking about special orders for leather shoes. The original "classic leather" is the most perfect, and it is all-white. I was able to tackle the special order with a different mindset than before, trying to create something good without destroying the quality of the original. It was like I had one more drawer inside me (laughs).
Product Name：〈Reebok for UNITED ARROWS〉CLASSIC LEATHER ( Classic Leather )
Part No.: HP9689
Price: ¥13,200( including tax )
Size: 22.5cm 23cm 23.5cm 23.5cm 24cm 24.5cm 25cm 25.5cm 26cm 26.5cm 27cm 27.5cm 28cm 28.5cm 29cm 30cm
Do you have any particular challenges in achieving the ideal sneaker?
Uchiyama:We were very particular about the coloring and the texture of the leather. For example, the gray of the outsole could be simply described as "light gray," but we were particular about achieving the ideal shade. For example, the gray of the outsole could be simply described as "light gray," but we were very particular about achieving the ideal shade.
We used two types of leather, smooth leather and grained leather, and I selfishly requested to use grain leather that is not too grainy and yet soft (laugh). (Laughs.) It is a simple, all-white sneaker, but I was very particular about the details and made a lot of requests.
It is said that "God is in the details.
Uchiyama:Such particularity may be easier to understand if it is put in the context of men's suits. Even the same navy suit can look completely different just by changing the material. A different thread or weave of fabric can give a completely different impression, and people who like it also enjoy that kind of thing. So I think all-leather sneakers are similar in that the impression changes completely depending on how the materials are combined and where they are placed.
I had thought that in this kind of custom-made project, there are swatches of fabrics and colors, and then you combine them to come up with a design, but in this case, you came up with most of the ideas from scratch. Is such an approach unusual?
Uchiyama:Yes, it is. I think it is generally rare. The direction of the colors and materials was decided at the beginning, but the hard part this time was to find a way to express them with a high degree of precision. I am truly grateful to the people at Reebok for responding to our detailed requests.
