PROFILE
Born in Tokyo in 1976, he launched "With Limited" based on the concept of "INDIVIDUAL CLOTHING" in 2000. He met Mr. Kunii of "MITASU Sneakers" through a mutual friend and they hit it off. Since then, they have collaborated mainly on sports brand sneakers.
Instagram: @whiz1976
PROFILE
Born in 1976. A leading figure in the sneaker industry, he is the driving force behind "MITA Sneakers," which proposes unique sneaker styles from downtown Ueno, Tokyo, to the world. In addition to collaborating with numerous brands, he is involved in a wide range of sneaker projects.
Instagram: @shigeyuki_kunii
Collaboration is a problem to give identity.
-This time it is a triple collaboration between "Timberland," "With Limited," and "MITA Sneakers" called "Yellow Boots," but I didn't really have an image of "Timberland" in your mind...
Lower field: In fact, I like and wear these "yellow boots" so much that I have bought them again three times. I used to wear "field boots" a lot when I was young, though "yellow boots" are the standard.
-Where did you purchase those "field boots"?
Lower field: I bought it at an import select store called "Neverland" in Ebisu, or at a stall that DJ MURO had in Shibuya.
-Both of these stores are nostalgic (laughs).
Lower field: I have a pair of "yellow boots" that I haven't worn yet, and I didn't feel like I would wear one pair for a long time, but like sneakers, when they get dirty, I'll move on to the next! I wore them like sneakers, when they got dirty, I would move on to the next pair.
Kunii-san has an image of having many contacts with hip-hop, so "Yellow Boots" seems to have a high affinity with it.
Kunii: Yes, that's right. I just have a lot of friends and seniors in that neighborhood (laughs). But in the 90s, rappers like Redman and Craig Mack wore "Timberland" as if it was their uniform. Like Mr. Shimono mentioned earlier, there was a New York-like hip-hop culture of wearing fresh yellow boots, like Nike's "Air Force 1" that you would put on the next pair when they got a little dirty. I liked the status symbol aspect of the "yellow boot. However, because of this collaboration, I haven't worn them in a very long time.
How did you feel when you tried them on after a long time?
Kunii: I have been wanting to wear "field boots" in winter for a while, and I sometimes match them with my boots, but I haven't worn "yellow boots" in a while, and I thought they were really nice.
Wiz Ltd. and "mita sneakers" have recently collaborated with "Converse" and "New Balance" in various ways, haven't they?
Lower field: We have also collaborated with Puma, Reebok, Asics, Mizuno, and various other sports brands.
Kunii: As with the recent release of "MT580" by New Balance, street brands have been collaborating with Mr. Magara and YOPPI of HECTIC under one brand for a long time, so it did not feel right to collaborate with Whiz Limited, which is also from Harajuku, under such tension. I didn't feel it was right for me to collaborate with "With Limited," which is also from Harajuku.
I see.
Kunii: However, I have had the opportunity to see exhibitions of "With Limited" for many seasons, and the range of designs is so broad that I think the brand has changed with each exhibition, but the core of the "With" style is still there. I felt that this "uniqueness" and "breadth" could be used for various sports brands. Mr. Shimono himself likes sneakers, and I liked the fact that he does not have a biased viewpoint, so I thought it would be best to collaborate with "Whiz Limited" in a stamp rally-like manner.
Lower field: I am grateful. I have been in Harajuku for a long time, but there were not many people of my generation around, so I am glad to have friends of my generation.
However, collaborating with a sports brand is quite stimulating for the brand, isn't it?
Lower field: That's right. However, since I am carrying the signboard of "MITA Sneakers" and the sports brand, I have to sell at least one pair...there is such pressure (laughs). (Laughs) I also have to express my own personality. In the end, there are very few collaborations that can be created from scratch, so it is always difficult to create something that expresses the identity of "With Limited" and the meaning of what I do.
