The Craft of Customization with RECOUTURE

An interview with frontman Shun Hirose for HYPEBEAST Magazine HYPEBEAST Features - Go in-depth and learn more about the culture. [HYPEBEAST]( [Features]( June 21, 2019 [The Craft of Customization with RECOUTURE]( An interview with frontman Shun Hirose for HYPEBEAST Magazine AKIHARU ICHIKAWA / HYPEBEAST The art of customizing sneakers has changed dramatically since the early 2000s. Names like Mark Ong (SBTG) and the Shoe Surgeon (Dominic Chambrone) have been pivotal in popularizing the artform with their striking illustrations and use of luxe materials. Yet we’re witnessing the emergence of a new wave of customization, thanks to Japanese craftsman Shun Hirose and his fledgling customization label, RECOUTURE. It’s hard to pinpoint Hirose’s aesthetic. He uses popular sneaker silhouettes and fits them with outsoles from boots, brogues and many other shoe types – just not sneakers. The result is a design that instantly elevates the everyday. At times, Hirose refits the shoes’ upper panels with nume leather – the same class of leather used in luxury giant Louis Vuitton’s leather accessories. Some notable silhouettes that have received the RECOUTURE treatment include Adidas Stan Smiths, Nike’s Air Max 95s, Air Jordan 1s, and even Birkenstock sandals. My mother ran a clothing restoration business, so restoration was kind of second nature to me. AKIHARU ICHIKAWA / HYPEBEAST Before RECOUTURE, Hirose was focused on shoe repair and restoration, and pivoted to leather goods and accessories with the aim of being more original in this industry. RECOUTURE owes its beginnings to a worn-in pair of Nike Cortez that were given a second life courtesy of Hirose’s skill and fine attention to quality and craftsmanship. His efforts have not been in vain. Just this year, cult Japanese brand Children of the Discordance partnered up with RECOUTURE for a series of Converse Chuck Taylor All-Stars that were turned into boots. Since then, Hirose has also become more experimental in terms of materials and design. A number of his newer creations feature Hermes scarves as footwear uppers, multiple suede Swoosh symbols, and Jordan logo metal plates. [READ THE FULL ARTICLE ON HYPEBEAST →](   [More HYPEBEAST Features]( [[FASHION]( [8 Drops You Don't Want to Miss This Week]( [[FASHION]( [IISE Is Redefining Traditional Korean Aesthetics]( [Get The App Free on iOS and Android]( Follow --------------------------------------------------------------- 2019 HYPEBEAST Limited. All Rights Reserved [Manage Subscriptions]( You are receiving this email because you have subscribed to HYPEBEAST's marketing emails. You can unsubscribe from us any time by clicking [here](. It may take 48 hours to complete the unsubscribe process. Contact subscription@hypebeast.com for assistance on any enquiries. Our Mailing Address: HYPEBEAST, 10F, KC 100, 100 Kwai Cheong Road, Kwai Chung, Hong Kong