One of our favorite brands, SUICOKE, is coincidentally also a name that that is shrouded in mystery, as with quite a few fashion exports coming out of Japan.
The brand specializes in functional outdoor footwear, and worked with Italian firm Vibram to create a custom footbed that comes standard with all SUICOKE sandals. While SUICOKE products seem ideal for a light hike or afternoon forest expedition, the brand’s signature velcro sandals have also found a niche in the fashion world, becoming a favorite among fashion stylists looking to diversify their on-set wardrobe.
Following our collaboration with them, we spoke with SUICOKE’s Jinichi Leung, who answered some of our pressing questions about the brand.
First, who are the founders of SUICOKE?
SUICOKE blends sensibilities from anonymous creative members based in Japan. Today, the brand is renowned for its unique approach to design, consistently challenging creative development and utilizing only the highest quality materials.
Why the anonymity?
We simple want people to focus on the products, rather than the designers or founders. Customers easily come up with their own ideas if they see who is running the brand. But we want each customer to think more about how they wear the products, and sometimes we learn from them and develop new ideas again.
Which silhouette is SUICOKE most famous for?
The KISEE-V. It’s also been picked up by numerous brands for collaborations in the past. mastermind JAPAN, Slam Jam, Brain Dead and more. The latest Highsnobiety collaboration is also based on the style but adds new design elements and elevates it into a more sophisticated design, and we are proud to announce it.
What does the name SUICOKE mean?
It’s a creation of words. Thanks to our brand’s success, people are curious about how the word was created, but we like the sounds of “sui-coke.”
Tell us about the original Vibram footbed featured in SUICOKE footwear.
Vibram is known as one of the best sole manufacturers in the world, and we succeeded in producing an original sandal equipped with a Vibram sole, which is an industry-first achievement. The footbed sticks out, allowing the heel and arch of the foot to move in a natural way. It helps reduce foot pain while walking.
Are SUICOKE sandals intrinsically Japanese?
In general, Japanese people already understand the concept of fashion-sport sandals, so they often choose to wear sandals during the summer. On the other hand, overseas markets are starting to embrace the trend in recent years. Fortunately, SUICOKE is getting more attention each season. The great thing about overseas markets is that they give us the opportunity to meet people and brands for collaborations.
What are some of your personal favorite SUICOKE collaborations?
Stussy was one of the recent great ones. Also Nepenthes, which is one of the most prominent stores in the world, extending far beyond the fashion industry. Lastly Sasquatchfabrix., the founder Daisuke has the deepest thought behind the brand and always brings us unique design approaches.
Finally, socks or no socks?
It’s up to you, but we love to wear the finest socks like Corgi. Toward SS18, we are developing new products with them. We hope you like them!