Sneaker News At the forefront of the rugged military and utilitarian aesthetic is Japan’s Engineered Garments, the storied clothing brand that continues to set the tone for Americana fashion. At times, they’ll dabble in footwear collaborations, but this latest project reaches beyond brand partnership and into unbridled passion.
They’ve tapped sashiko stitch expert Jun Sugimae to create a custom set of Reebok Instapump Furys in black and pecan brand, bringing the centuries-old Japanese stitching technique to the exterior of the performance running shoe’s air bladder. In sashiko, each hand-stitched thread gains strength through repetition and layering; this echoes the shared ethos of reinforcement, longevity, and respect for the life of an object.
Since 2014, Jun Sugimae has devoted his practice to sashiko, applying its hand-stitched reinforcement and decorative methods to modern products such as sneakers and mountain parkas. Working with little more than needle and thread, he has developed a signature approach that bridges time-honored craft and modern product design. His work continually expands the role of traditional techniques, challenging and redefining the boundary between craft and product. He works with natural dyes, including indigo and persimmon tannin, dyeing sashiko threads—and even the sneakers themselves—to allow materials to evolve with wear and time. Rooted in history yet shaped by a modern perspective, his practice honors tradition while pushing sashiko forward into the future.
These are available exclusively at Nepenthes NY in-store and online beginning December 13th for $2,000 a piece; see a closer look ahead.
