I love a good pair of chucks but they don’t quite meet the level of considered craftsmanship and quality that I want out of my footwear. Shoes Like Pottery is a name that perked my interest, and it should perk yours, too, ‘cos they’ve intertwined craftsmanship with storytelling in such a neat way while maintaining a clean and simple design — it’s all in the name.
The Shoes Like Pottery SLP01 Low Top Sneaker is understated in appearance but shines when it comes to its construction methods. First off, each pair is handmade in Japan where the 100% cotton green canvas upper is sewn together and glued to the outsole using a tape made of natural rubber — a method that cannot be replicated by a machine. Once this is done, the whole shoe is placed in a kiln for 70 minutes, a process called ka-ryu. This causes a reaction of the sulfur in the outsole which in turn returns the rubber to its natural state which results in an outsole that is not only super soft but flexible and durable. This journey closely mimics the way Japanese pottery is made and the resulting product is equally timeless.
Available from Franklin and Poe priced at $155 with a shoe bag included.
