Say goodbye to Yohei Fukuda’s three-year waitlist, and hello to a pair of handmade captoe Oxfords—the bespoke shoemaker is finally returning to Hong Kong for a trunk show. Fukuda-san’s first post-pandemic pop-up in the city will be hosted at The Armoury in Central on 14 and 15 April, where he will take measurements and commissions for new orders, as well as introduce his sample shoes and leather swatches to customers.
Considered one of the foremost Japanese shoemakers, Fukuda-san spent years honing his cordwaining skills in the UK at the respected Tresham Institute in Northamptonshire, home to the nation’s traditional shoemaking industry, and then gained more experience at first-class British shoemaking companies such as Edward Green and George Cleverley.
He returned to his hometown in 2006, and later opened his own atelier in Tokyo, spearheading the burgeoning movement of bespoke Japanese shoemaking. His workshop specialises in the classic Balmoral Oxford style, characterised by sweeping lines, a long vamp, and a punched cap, of which only 200 coveted pairs are made each year between himself and his handful of apprentices. Bespoke models, with a personalised last and hand-stitched sole, start from ¥560,000 (HK$33,330) per pair.
“We don’t intend to make a shoe that’s about fashion. I want my shoes to be classic so the customer can wear them for 20 or 30 years,” he said in interview with Robb Report about his signature design.
Japanese artisans, and Fukuda-san amongst them, continue to make their mark on the shoemaking industry on both a local and global level. Just last year, some of the top spots in international competitions, such as the World Championships in Shoemaking and US Global Footwear Awards, were won by contestants from Japan. Many share a similar journey of apprenticing abroad and fusing their learned skills with unique Japanese style and precision.
Fukuda-san’s in-person fittings at the trunk show are by appointment only. Email ahead at info@thearmoury.com or call the team at (+852) 2804 6991 to avoid disappointment.
14–15 April 2023
Shop 307, Pedder Building, 12 Pedder Street, Central, Hong Kong
(+852) 2804 6991
All images courtesy of The Armoury and Yohei Fukuda.
