French shoe brand VEJA has teamed up with Dover Street Market Ginza to launch a set of unique co-branded shoes hand-sewn by Sashiko Gals. This team of craftsmen from Japan is good at using traditional techniques to repair and customize clothing, and their craftsmanship will inject unique charm into VEJA’s new “Panenka” shoes. Only 10 pairs of the limited edition shoes will be available and will be sold exclusively at Dover Street Market’s Ginza store in Tokyo next week.
The design of this shoe is inspired by retro football training shoes. The shoe body shows a strong craftsmanship through traditional Sashiko repair techniques. The sashiko technique, which dates back to the 8th century and was originally used to strengthen old clothing, has evolved into an art form with a unique Japanese aesthetic, rendered in detailed graphics and diverse thread colors. The Sashiko Gals are a group of women from Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, ranging in age from 40 to over 80. Each member is proficient in this ancient craft, giving each pair of shoes a delicate and unique soul.
This limited edition is part of VEJA’s “Clean, Repair, Collect” project, which promotes recycling concepts through repair and combats the waste crisis in the fashion industry. This project was launched four years ago, when environmental issues became increasingly pressing. VEJA launched the shoemaker project in Bordeaux, France in June 2020. Now, the brand has brought this effort to Japan and adapted it for the Japanese market, not only continuing the local intricate tradition of fabric repair, but also allowing this craft to continue to shine.
The recommended price of each pair of shoes is 165,000 yen, and Dover Street Market Ginza will be open for on-site sales from March 28th to 29th, while supplies last.