The Chase Shiel x Ryustyler Air Max 1 'Wagashi' is a Sweet Treat!
Melbourne-based craftsman and artist/photographer Ryustyler have linked up yet again to cook up another delicious crep creation: the ‘Wagashi’.
Inspired by traditional Japanese sweets of the same name, the duo’s latest custom job is a companion pair to their limited-release from 2018.
The classic silhouette has been executed in a delicately balanced scheme, with luxurious nubuck and pigskin sourced directly from Japan used for the top section. Boar leather in five pastel hues forms the body of the shoe, and a fully-lined leather interior with leather insoles offers premium comfort and fit. Wagashi ingredients inspired details like the icy sole and custom-made translucent laces, while the laser-engraved floral motif on the Swoosh pays homage to the traditional chrysanthemum shape often seen in wagashi design.
‘Made from a base of glutinous rice flour and traditional ingredients like azuki (red bean), wagashi can take a wide range of shapes and designs, drawing cues from nature and reflecting the ephemeral beauty of the season,’ explains Ryustyler.
‘Whether traditional or modern in appearance, the highest quality wagashi are crafted with painstaking detail by hand and the colours, textures, and minutest of details all hold meaning in the artisan’s hands.’
Six extra sets of laces are included in a wooden gift box, mimicking a box of traditional confectionery. The entire shoebox comes housed in a hand-woven Japanese fabric, which is wrapped by in a traditional ‘furoshiki’ style. Finally, the pack includes a lookbook, signed by the artists, featuring exclusive photography by Ryustyler and a behind-the-scenes look at the creative process.
The Air Max 1 ‘Wagashi’ releases on October 20 in a limited run via Chase Shiel’s .