This Japanese Company Upcycles Old Kimonos & Obi Into Modern Sneakers

By Charmaine Shaharin  •  24 Aug 2020 in Design

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All countries have their own traditional-wear and for Japan, it is the Kimono. Kimonos are often worn during special occasions and are also quite pricey. With many Japanese placing high sentimental value on them, kimonos can be hard to let go of when damaged or simply when the wearers can’t fit into them anymore.

Giving a much deserved afterlife to traditional-wear, Japanese service store & Steady has come up with a solution to put your old kimonos and obi into good use by upcycling them into sneakers with modern designs. The sneakers are all handmade in the town of Asakusa, otherwise known as Older Tokyo, and the idea of it has grown very popular ever since it was introduced last year.

According to Japan Today, customers can choose between lace or Velcro, black or white soles, as well as wooden patterns so that they feel comfortable and confident when walking. The sneakers are priced at 45,000 yen (RM1774) and will take about 2 months for the order to be processed.