With the goal of "revitalizing Japan," Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings launched the "JAPAN SENSES" campaign in 2011 to connect producers with consumers. Now in its fourth year, the campaign will run from April 1st to 15th at the Isetan Shinjuku store. One project worth noting is the "Aomori Indigo" project, which utilizes indigo dyeing, a traditional Japanese dyeing technique. Sixteen men's brands, including N.HOLLYWOOD, FACTOTUM, and White Mountaineering, are creating products using Aomori indigo and promoting its appeal to consumers. We spoke with Yasuhiro Mihara, designer of one of the participating brands, MIHARAYASUHIRO. What were your honest thoughts when you heard about the project? Actually, I was personally interested in this project, as I had just released a collection using SUKUMO, a natural dye made from indigo, in my 14 Spring/Summer collection. To me, the possibilities of indigo are still unknown. Simply put, it's dyed blue, but even the way you create shades is complex. Furthermore, the way fabrics and leather dye is completely different. I started my career as a designer with shoes, so I focused on them this time. I think dyeing leather shoes with indigo was quite an experimental endeavor.

--So you dared to take on a difficult item.

If a designer teamed up with traditional craftsmen to create something new or simply attract temporary attention, the true meaning of the project would be lost. I believe it's important for designers to be involved in developing new techniques and creating something that resonates with the people of the producing areas. Otherwise, traditions will fade and not be passed down from the past to the future. That's why I took on the challenge of dyeing leather with indigo, something I'd never attempted before.

--What challenges did you face during the production process?

For the 14SS collection, I created products using pre-dyed materials, so I was able to imagine the finished product to a certain extent. On the other hand, this time, the shoes were immersed in the dye while still in their original state. Because the leather used for the upper and sole were different, there was a lively sense of letting things flow as we went, in a good way, to see how the dye would turn out. After dyeing, when the leather lost its oil and became brittle, I thought it had failed... But by placing it in a wooden mold and carefully applying cream, the leather's texture was restored and we were able to turn it into a product.

--How do you like the finished product?

I think the shoes have a warmth that you can feel from the maker. The soles are hand-sewn and finished by hammering. They're plain shoes, but I think they have a certain charm to them. I aimed for a translucent blue color. There were two reasons for this: one is that I wanted people to enjoy the aging of the leather. The other is that many people like denim, so I dyed them twice to create a slightly lighter color so they wouldn't blend in with the shoes. Of course, I'm happy with the finished product, but it also reaffirmed the potential of indigo.

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