SWAAN4RLBERG's Valued Shoemaking
What SWAAN4RLBERG values in shoemaking is a comfortable fit that accompanies daily life and a timeless appearance for long-lasting use.
Lightness that makes you want to wear them every day. Material selection that feels comfortable even with bare feet. Simple shapes that suit any outfit or occasion.
To create such a pair of shoes, we carefully select materials and craft each shoe one by one.
Leather Scraps Born to Uphold Quality
Each piece of leather has its own unique characteristics, such as variations in color and texture, thickness, and stretch.
While we strive to use leather as efficiently as possible, we cannot use every piece to maintain the comfort, beauty, and durability of our shoes.
The leather that remains is not just leftover material; it's like a margin created to uphold the quality of our shoemaking.
At the factory in Kurashiki, Okayama, where SWAAN4RLBERG shoes are made, small scraps are continuously generated during daily shoemaking.
Previously, leather that couldn't be fully utilized to maintain quality was sometimes discarded. However, some of that leather still possesses ample charm.
Transforming Valuable Leather into Another Form
"Re:Leather" is an initiative to transform such leather into small pouches and bags once again.
Even leather that couldn't be fully utilized for shoes can have its color, texture, and character preserved when made into small leather goods.
Because they are made from scraps, the expression and color of each piece of leather are unique. This individuality is one of the charms of Re:Leather.
One by One, During Shoemaking Intervals
These items are crafted by the artisans who make SWAAN4RLBERG shoes.
They create each piece one by one during intervals in their daily shoemaking. Therefore, it is not possible to produce a large quantity at once.
The Re:Leather items, reborn as small leather goods, retain the unique character of the leather born from the shoemaking process and the craftsmanship of the artisans.
Why We Named It "Re:Leather"
We named this initiative Re:Leather.
"Re" signifies "again" or "once more."
Instead of simply discarding the leather scraps generated during shoemaking, we want to bring them back into the creative process.
The name Re:Leather embodies this sentiment.
More Than Just for the Environment
Re:Leather is not solely an initiative focused on environmental considerations.
Of course, utilizing scraps as much as possible is crucial for future manufacturing.
But beyond that, there's also a desire to treat the leather generated during shoemaking with care once more. To have artisans transform it into small items that complement daily life. These feelings are also part of this initiative.
Small Leather Goods Born from the Margins
The leather scraps are born precisely because we do not compromise on shoemaking quality.
By working with this leather once again, we created the small leather items of Re:Leather.
Not letting these margins simply remain as margins.
That, too, is one of the aspects of craftsmanship that SWAAN4RLBERG values.
We hope that each time you pick one up, you'll feel a bit of the leather's character, the warmth of handmade craft, and the shoemaking story behind it.