Thank you for your continued patronage of Arch Kelly. This is Director Shimizukawa.
Today, July 5th, marks Arch Kelly's third anniversary. Over the years, MTO has made shoes for many customers.
As we reflected various requests in our shoes, the experience of the craftsmen in the workshop and myself as the director increased, and we were able to develop a service that went beyond simple pattern orders. I would like to express my gratitude once again to everyone who has made shoes for us so far.
We believe that it is time to redefine Arch Kerry's mission, which began with the goal of recreating the ideal of American vintage, and have therefore decided to rebrand the MTO collection as "Arch Kerry HAND MADE" from October 1st and revise the prices.
The price, which previously ranged from 123,000 to 130,000 yen depending on the style, will now be a flat rate of 140,000 yen (all prices excluding tax).
The main reason for the price revision is the increase in management costs due to the increasing complexity of orders and to ensure sufficient wages for each craftsman involved in the production of Arch Kelly.
Of course, prices of materials and other things are rising, but because Arch Kelly uses many domestically produced materials, the increase is not that great.
At Vintage Shoes Night, held at THE SHOESHINE & BAR Toranomon in March this year, we planned an order event where customers could create shoes of their choice that were not included in the Arch Kelly samples. The custom shoes we received from customers who love vintage shoes are made from new wooden lasts, and we are currently working on creating patterns to reproduce the benchmark shoes.
Even outside of this event, we have been receiving many orders that require us to recut patterns, such as changing patterns and adding perforations (including ventilation!). All of these are based on suggestions from customers, and I always tell myself that this shows the high expectations that customers have for Arch Kelly.
On the other hand, Arch Kelly shoes are increasingly being entrusted with the production of domestically made custom shoes, as customers appreciate the comfort of the shoes. When ordering shoes that do not have elements of American shoes, it is necessary to make customizations that have not been included in the order menu so far, such as reducing the tension of the welt or adding a headband that is not usually worn.
Because the detailed specifications vary for each of these jobs, there is currently an increasing amount of communication between myself, the director, Mr. Tate, and the team of craftsmen.
Of course, we are proud to say that the shoes themselves are first-class.
Although the shoes are made using the Goodyear welt method, the ribs are carefully hammered to improve the flexibility, and the craftsman's attention to detail and effort are put into these shoes, so it is no exaggeration to say that they are "handmade." In particular, the precision of the balance of the front, back, left and right sides of the sole is the result of the remarkable skill of craftsman Atsushi Tate. I think this is what supports the beauty of Arch Kelly.
Starting in October, Arch Kerry HAND MADE will be introducing a new order menu. For those who wish to recreate vintage shoes, we will provide a service that allows you to incorporate your strong preferences, and we aim to take custom shoe services to the next level. We sincerely hope for your continued patronage.
July 5, 2023
Arch Kerry Shimizugawa Sakae