<mita sneakers> Creative Director Hideyuki Kunii
Model：PROGRID OMNI 9
Now is the time to choose Saucony
Kunii, who has had experience with a wide range of sneakers, adheres to the style of valuing intuition when choosing his own shoes.
"The theme for 2025 is to learn from the past and create something new. Rather than being nostalgic, I feel like wearing a model that has a certain feel, regardless of whether it's new or old. Among them, Saucony, which has been around for many years, is the perfect choice. I was drawn to it the moment I saw it, and I bought it for the first time in decades. It's called the 'Armor Pack' and comes in three colors: black, gray, and green. I had a hard time deciding, but I decided on the black, which can be worn in a variety of situations. Since it's been a while since I've worn Saucony, I'm not going to be too adventurous and will take my time to enjoy its functionality and comfort."
＜EX+++ SHOWROOM＞ Director TEE
Model：Chuck Taylor CT70
Our Legacy reinterprets deadstock
Although TEE's shoe collection mostly consists of Nike shoes, he says that Converse's Chuck Taylor CT70 is special.
"Actually, I first started wearing them as an adult. I bought them at a shop I visited when I got blisters from wearing leather shoes overseas. I remember being impressed by how stable and comfortable they were. I've been collecting them ever since, and most of them are one-of-a-kind pieces made in the Our Legacy workshop. They are made from deadstock stored at Converse, which are dyed and distressed. In the spring and summer, there are more opportunities to wear shorts, so I like to pair them with high-tops."
Florist Yasutaka Ochi
Brand：Cecilie Bahnsen × Asics
Model：GEL–TERRAIN
Flower motifs that are more than just cute
"I prefer voluminous sneakers, but when I look at the collection, I'm intrigued by the athletic shoe designs. I'm very interested in styles I've never tried before," says Ochi. A pair of shoes that follows the mood of this spring are the collaboration shoes between Copenhagen brand Cecilie Bahnsen and Asics.
"I bought it from the Dover Street Market Ginza online shop. As a florist, I am careful when choosing floral patterns and motifs, but I thought something this kitschy could actually be interesting. I want to create a contrast with the bright red by wearing it with a sporty light blue suit."
Ryo Kashiwazaki, designer of Hender Scheme
Model：citizen trainer
German trainer combines opposing elements
Kashiwazaki, who is involved in shoemaking as a designer at Hender Scheme, what sneakers would he like to wear personally this spring?
"The Citizen Trainer uses a flat gum sole, which has been a staple for the past few seasons. As the model name suggests, the upper is decorated with brogues to contrast with the functionalist military style, reversing the roles of practicality and design. The cutting of sneakers is made up of a chain of déjà vu, and within that chain I often unconsciously choose a balance that I like. When I design my own shoes, the main task is to search for that balance."
