Jun Sugimae X Engineered Garments - Sashiko Reebok Pump Fury
For this exclusively hand made Pump Fury, the design philosophy of Engineered Garments, which modernizes classic elements, was reinterpreted through the lens of sashiko, a technique with centuries of history. The piece focuses on the shared spirit between the two approaches—particularly the sashiko ethos of reinforcing and extending the life of belongings. Each hand-stitched thread gains strength only when layered upon another. By adding artisanal handwork to a sneaker born from advanced performance technology, a new dialogue emerges between tradition and contemporary design.
Since 2014, Jun Sugimae has been dedicated to sashiko, a Japanese stitching technique that has been practiced for centuries. By applying hand-stitched reinforcement and decorative work to modern products such as sneakers and mountain parkas—using nothing more than needle and thread—he has established a distinctive style that bridges craft and contemporary product design. His work expands the possibilities of traditional techniques and continually redefines the boundary between craft and product.
Sugimae also dyes materials using natural dyes such as indigo and persimmon tannin. By dyeing sashiko threads and even the sneakers themselves, he incorporates the evolving character of the materials into the narrative of each piece. Rooted in tradition yet reinterpreted through a modern lens, his practice aims to carry sashiko into the future.
Exclusively available in-store and online Saturday 12/13 at Nepenthes New York.
