Tomo & Co. and REGAL Shoe & Co. Launch Tomo & Shoe & Co. Line

Tomo & Co. and REGAL Shoe & Co. have officially launched their collaborative footwear line, named Tomo & Shoe & Co. This new collection is set to embark on a four-city pop-up tour across Japan, commencing in Fukuoka on Saturday, October 3. The collaborative project, spearheaded by Tomo & Co., is built around the core concepts of "movement" and "travel," with its campaign visuals prominently featuring Shinobu Okumura. Okumura, the owner of Mingei Okumura, is known for his extensive travels throughout Japan and internationally, where he has immersed himself in regional folk arts, craftsmanship, and local manufacturing practices. The project's narrative is deeply influenced by the encounters with people and artisanal skills discovered through these journeys, layering them onto the brand's worldview.

For this specific collection, the design team drew inspiration from the comfortable walking shoes that REGAL introduced in the 1980s. These original REGAL shoes were characterized by their emphasis on walkability and a lightweight construction. Leveraging REGAL's extensive archives, which document decades of footwear development, Tomo & Co. applied a modern design perspective to reimagine these classic models. The reconstruction process involved utilizing a stitch-down manufacturing method, a technique that allows for flexibility and durability. By merging traditional Japanese craftsmanship with contemporary design elements, the collection aims to embody the themes of "movement" and "travel" in a seamless and stylish manner.

The pop-up tour schedule is as follows: Fukuoka will host the event from Saturday, October 3 to Sunday, October 4 at Valley, located at 1F, 1-5-13 Bakuro, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu-shi. Following Fukuoka, the tour moves to Osaka from Saturday, October 10 to Sunday, October 11 at THE GROUND depot., situated at 1-15-5 Minamihorie, Nishi-ku, Osaka-shi. Tokyo's leg of the tour will take place from Saturday, October 17 to Sunday, October 18 at THE LIBRARY Omotesando, found at 4-11-2 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku. The final stop is Nagoya, from Saturday, October 31 to Sunday, November 1 at JACK IN THE BOX, located at 3-1-65 Osu, Naka-ku, Nagoya-shi. This initiative by Tomo & Co. and REGAL Shoe & Co. signifies a strategic effort to engage directly with consumers and showcase the new collaborative line in key urban centers across Japan, highlighting the fusion of heritage and innovation in their footwear designs.