Moonstar Shoes

With an unbroken shoemaking heritage that reaches back almost 150 years, it is little wonder that Moonstar is so highly respected in its field. Founded as a ‘Tabi’ maker (traditional, split-toed footwear with a rubber sole) in Kurume, Japan in 1873, Moonstar has used its wealth of experience to innovate, whilst maintaining a superior level of quality. The logical and natural progression in style and design led them to the classic, vulcanised rubber sole canvas sneaker.

The construction of these sneakers is an artform in itself. A skilled craftsman attaches the upper to the outsole according to the shape of the last, and then puts a tape around it. This process is impossible to do by machine. Each pair is done by hand. The outsole is made of raw, claylike rubber that supports the shape of the shoe. Then, utilising the ka-ryu (vulcanising) process, each shoe is fired in a kiln at 120 °C (248 °F) for 70 minutes which causes the sulphur mixed inside the raw rubber to chemically react, returning the rubber to its natural elasticity and creating a soft, flexible, and durable sole. The end result is a perfectly made long lasting and comfortable shoe.