Winner 2023 / Special Awards / ARTISTIC FOOTWEAR

Astro Heel

 

 

• Company
  Misawa Shoe Design Inc.
• Lead Designer
  Noriyuki Misawa
• Photo credit
  Shinichi Ichikawa
• Prize
  Winner in ARTISTIC FOOTWEAR
• Expertise
  Brand

Misawa presents the world of Astro Boy by transforming it into shoes with profound respect to Osamu Tezuka.

Misawa, who has been emotionally influenced by the Russia-Ukraine War, began the design after being inspired by an episode about a War in Astro Boy. Through the innovate form of the “A-Heel,” representing the A in Astro Boy, Misawa introduces a fresh contour. Furthermore, the rainbow color is also a reference to S. Ferragamo’s Rainbow Sandal. The rainbow is a symbol of piece. Misawa describes the shape of the Astro Heel as a bridge and hopes these shoes will become a bridge to peace...

Bio
Misawa trained as a shoemaker in Tokyo and in Vienna, Austria, for 10 years. In Vienna, he spent his free time visiting artists’ ateliers and art museums, where he was absorbed by the creative artistry. This experience inspired his career as an artist. Returning to Japan, he continued to learn under some Japanese artists and craftsmen for 4 years to extend his range of expression. It has been 20 years since he has engaged in shoemaking. He will keep pursuing the new value of “shoe art.”

Other prizes
2010 Germany, International Efficiency Contest of Shoemakers "Gold medal" and "Honor prize" 2015 The 33rd Japan leather crafts exhibition "Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Minister Award" 2021 GLOBAL FOOTWEAR AWARDS "BEST OVERALL WINNER" 2022 GLOBAL FOOTWEAR AWARDS "BEST OVERALL WINNER"

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