Hender Scheme
Hender Scheme is a Japanese leather goods and footwear brand founded in Tokyo in 2010 by Ryo Kashiwazaki. It is best known for its handmade vegetable-tanned leather shoes, including the Manual Industrial Products series of sneaker homages.
| Founded | 2010 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Ryo Kashiwazaki |
| Workshop | Asakusa, Tokyo |
| Signature line | Manual Industrial Products |
| Flagship | Ebisu, Tokyo |
| Website | hender-scheme.com |
What is Hender Scheme?
Hender Scheme is a Tokyo leather brand whose shoes are handmade in Asakusa, the city's traditional leather craft district. Its tagline describes the sneaker as a philosophical object.
History
Founder Ryo Kashiwazaki studied philosophy at university before training in leather craft in Asakusa. He launched the brand in 2010. The name is adapted from psychologist Sandra Bem's gender schema theory.
Products and positioning
The brand's best known line is Manual Industrial Products (MIP), which recreates iconic sneakers by hand in leather. Other features include:
- Undyed vegetable-tanned leather that develops a patina with wear
- Full-grain Japanese leather, leather laces and insoles
- Replaceable soles on most models
- Original silhouettes such as Skip Wander
Prices sit at the top end of the market, with original designs starting around 50,000 yen.
Distribution
In Japan the brand runs a flagship in Ebisu and appears in department store pop-ups. Internationally it is stocked by retailers including Dover Street Market, Ssense, Mr Porter and Goodhood.
Why it matters
Hender Scheme turned the mass-produced sneaker into a handcrafted object, a concept that has given it a strong following among international design-led retailers.
Frequently asked questions
Who founded Hender Scheme?
Hender Scheme was founded in 2010 by Ryo Kashiwazaki, who trained in leather craft in Asakusa, Tokyo.
What is Hender Scheme known for?
It is known for handmade vegetable-tanned leather shoes, especially its Manual Industrial Products homages to classic sneakers.