Deep dive into Japanese brands! A tour of famous leather shoe stores with GENSEI & Nin [Harta Edition]

A recommended itinerary to enjoy Japanese leather shoes

To fully enjoy the world of Japanese leather shoes, this series will visit the directly managed stores of six companies: REGAL, HARUTA, Otsuka Shoes, Toritsu Shoes, MADRAS, and EIZO! This is the fourth installment, and we will focus on the HARUTA store, which offers a wide range of leather shoes in various styles.

Enjoy sightseeing at Harta Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse

This time, we visited Haruta's Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse store. Located in the Red Brick Warehouse, a popular tourist spot in Yokohama, the store is bustling with inbound tourists every day. It is Haruta's first directly operated store and is said to have one of the largest product selections in the country.

The store will be renovated in 2022 as part of large-scale construction work on the building. The warm brick-style space will make it a store where people of all ages can enjoy shopping together.

Trendy loafers made in Japan

Haruta offers a wide range of fashionable leather shoes that can be worn daily, but when you think of Haruta, many people probably think of loafers. In Japan, Haruta loafers are designated as designated shoes for some junior high and high schools, making it a brand closely associated with student shoes.

Loafers have become a trendy item in recent years, but the appeal of Haruta loafers is that they are made in Japan and yet are reasonably priced. They are made in their own domestic factory using a cement manufacturing method that allows for mass production while keeping costs down, so they can be purchased for under 10,000 yen.

Furthermore, Haruta offers accessories for basic coin loafers, such as bits and tassels called "HaruTags," which are sold separately. They can be easily attached with just one touch, so you can enjoy changing your style to suit your mood.

The prices are 2,750 yen for bits and 1,320 to 1,760 yen for tassels.

◆The shoes chosen by the two are here

Gensei's choice: "Casual Loafers #920" (18,480 yen)

From the many items in the Haruta lineup, GENSEI chose a pair of penny loafers made from glass leather. These shoes feature a distinctive gradation created by the "advan finish," which involves applying two layers of paint to the surface of the leather and polishing it in places.

Ning's choice: Casual Coin Loafers #230 (14,080 yen)

Ning chose a basic pair of black coin loafers, which, like GENSEI, are made from glossy coated glass leather.

Haruta Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse Store

Address: 2nd floor, Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse No. 2, 1-1-2 Shinko, Naka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture

Business hours: 11:00-20:00

Store area: Approximately 50 square meters

Haruta official website ( https://www.haruta-shoes.co.jp/ )

■ What is the Japan Shoe Manufacturers Association?

This non-profit organization aims to provide and popularize high-quality leather shoes that are suited to the Japanese climate and Japanese feet. They are involved in a wide range of activities, including providing information on the specifications and quality of leather shoes, formulating the Japanese Leather Shoe Standards (JIS), and addressing environmental issues that arise during the leather shoe manufacturing process. Their goal going forward is to further develop Japanese leather shoes amid increasingly fierce international competition.

Participating companies: Iwate Shoes, Eizo, Otsuka Shoes, Kyowa Kogyo, Chiyoda Shoes, Toritsu Shoes, Haruta, Madras, Miyagi Haruta Shoes, Regal Corporation (in alphabetical order)

Article reprinted from:
FASHIONSNAP Part 1
https://www.fashionsnap.com/article/jsma-vol-1/

FASHIONSNAP Part 2
https://www.fashionsnap.com/article/jsma-vol-2/