When choosing leather shoes, many people pay attention to the design and color but rarely consider how that color is created.
However, what greatly influences the character of leather shoes is the “dyeing method.”
At Mon Model, we use Senju-zome, in which an artisan layers dye one pair at a time to finish each pair.
Even when they share the same color name, each pair has a different character—this is the appeal of hand-dyed leather shoes.
This time, we will introduce the differences between hand-dyed leather shoes and conventional leather shoes, as well as the Standard Collection, which makes it easier to enjoy hand-dyed leather shoes.
The difference between conventional and hand-dyed leather shoes
Most conventional leather shoes use leather colored uniformly with pigments.
Because it produces little tonal variation and is highly efficient, it is used by many leather shoe brands.
By contrast, with hand-dyed leather shoes, the artisan builds up the color by layering dye one pair at a time.
Therefore,
- Rich, deep color
- An appearance that changes with the light
- A unique character for every pair
is created.
It is an appeal unique to handwork that cannot be expressed through mass production.
Three-dimensional character created through hand-dyeing
The appeal of hand-dyed leather shoes is not simply that they have been colored.
By applying dye with varying degrees of lightness and darkness, the artisan gives the leather itself a three-dimensional character.
Because their appearance changes depending on how the light falls, they become more cherished the more you wear them.
In Europe, there is a dyeing tradition called hand patina.
Mon Model’s Senju-zome is a unique technique completed one pair at a time by Japanese artisans while carrying on that spirit.
In a manner of speaking, it is handwork that could also be called a Japanese version of hand patina.
Why are hand-dyed leather shoes expensive?
Rather than using already-finished leather, hand-dyed leather shoes undergo a dyeing process carried out by an artisan for each product.
Therefore,
- Dyeing technique
- Working time
- The artisan’s experience
is required.
In other words, the price difference is not simply a brand premium; it comes from differences in the human-led production process.
Mon Model’s leather shoes are also finished with artisan-applied Senju-zome, one pair at a time.
Making hand-dyed leather shoes more accessible
You may be interested in hand-dyed leather shoes, but
“They seem expensive.”
“I want to try them first.”
Some people may feel this way.
This led to the creation of Mon Model’s Standard Collection.
The Standard Collection is a series designed to let you enjoy hand-dyed leather shoes more casually while preserving the beauty of artisan-applied Senju-zome.
Features of the Standard Collection
In the Standard Collection,
- rubber sole
- Goat leather lining
are used.
They offer ease of use distinct from leather soles, making them suitable for everyday wear.
Of course, the Senju-zome dyeing is also carried out by an artisan, one pair at a time, just as with the other collections.
Enjoy the character and color depth created by handwork.
→View the Standard Collection here
An introduction to hand-dyed leather shoes
Mon Model also offers collections featuring Blake construction and Goodyear welted construction.
Each has its own appeal, but what all the collections have in common is artisan-applied Senju-zome.
The Standard Collection is an option for enjoying the appeal of hand-dyed leather shoes more easily.
This series is also recommended for those wearing hand-dyed leather shoes for the first time.
First, we invite you to experience the depth and character of color created by an artisan’s handwork.
→View the Standard Collection here
