Mizuno's Hand-Dyed Sneaker Is a Feat of Japanese Craftsmanship
Mizuno and BUAISOU have a lot in common. The two Japanese brands both put value into upkeeping tradition and share a significant affinity with the color blue (it’s Mizuno’s signature hue and the color BUAISOU, a renowned Japanese indigo dyeing and farming studio, specializes in).
So, for the two brands to link up on a blue-colored, hand-dyed series of sneakers is a natural fit.
The Mizuno Wave Rider β dyed by Buaisou is an artisanal take on an old-school running sneaker that returned to shop shelves (with a considerable amount of fanfare) towards the start of 2023.
BUAISOU’s traditional methods — where everything is done in-house, including cultivating the raw indigo and fermenting the indigo leaves — are used to create the indigo-hued fabric used on this sneaker.
The indigo dyeing and farming studio also used traditional techniques to decorate the fabric with the “Bassen" technique used for a pattern that covers panels on the upper and the “Katajime” technique (where plastic boards compress the fabric and create dye-resistant areas) is used to create Mizuno’s signature Runbird logo.
Hand-dyed and assembled by a team of artisans, the sneakers are available now on Mizuno’s website retailing for €300 (this is around $325, however, the shoe is not available on Mizuno’s American site). Each pair of these sneakers is unique and it's available in limited quantities.
Whether it be naturally sunbleached Clarks or trail sneakers decorated by Sashiko, a handful of recent examples show traditional craft techniques creating excellent sneakers. At a time when more mass-produced sneakers are being made than ever, carefully handcrafted footwear is a welcomed change of pace.
