Scenery Japan will begin selling iGUANEYE, a revolutionary footwear brand from Paris, in Japan. To coincide with this, the company will open its first store in the world, the iGUANEYE Aoyama Main Store, in Aoyama, Tokyo, on September 20th. The store is located at 5-6-14 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo.
The first iGUANEYE series to be released in Japan, the iGUANEYE FS Series, is a new type of footwear designed by Parisian designer Olivier Taco that breaks away from the concept of "shoes." The shoes eliminate uppers and feature a simple hook-and-loop design at the toe and heel. The design took five years to complete. The goal was to create a walking experience as close to barefoot as possible.
The shoe body is made from 100% recyclable rubber and elastomer material. The seamless construction, completely free of adhesives, provides a snug fit without forcing the foot into place. The removable insole is made from cork and latex. The shoe's body and insole come in six colors, allowing customers to freely choose from 36 different combinations. The price is ¥9,000, and there are eight sizes available, from 36 to 43. Interior designer Soichi Mizutani handled the product's art direction and store design. When he first saw the product, he intuitively felt that it would "provide an opportunity for Japanese people to rediscover the inherent beauty of their feet." Located across from the agnès b. Aoyama store, the store is based on this groundbreaking product and features a clean, minimalist space with white walls and floors, based on the theme of bridging the image of the body's primordial memories with technology for future possibilities. A press conference was held on the 18th, attended by designer Olivier, art director Mizutani, Scenery Japan representative Katsuya Yamada, and Hermès Vice President Mineaki Saito, who initiated the project. Saito explained, "My first encounter with Olivier was when a friend introduced me to him in February, telling me he was a designer who was creating interesting things. When I first saw his products, I was struck by the idea that this was true design, and I wanted to bring it to the Japanese market. We launched the project in April, and just five months later, we've reached this store opening." Olivier commented, "I want Iguana Eye to become popular in Japan, giving more people an opportunity to rediscover the primitive senses and beauty inherent in humans." Regarding the Japanese expansion, he said, "When I was a student, I made sandals inspired by tabi socks. I feel a strong connection to Japan in many ways." Yamada shared, "In the first year, we'll start by raising awareness of this product domestically. For the time being, it will only be available at our directly managed store, but from next spring, we plan to gradually expand wholesale to other stores and begin full-scale operations."