Brandwatch: Yuketen shoes

I have been known to go to considerable lengths to achieve my aims. Take today, for instance. I've spent most of it in the pursuit of a pair of Yuketen shoes.

I've only just discovered this brand, and it seems much of the world has too, because I have been on a virtual tour of it, stopping off at online boutiques everywhere from Holland to New York. I even visited Japan. No luck.

My efforts pale into insignificance compared to those undertaken by the man who has created the Yuketen brand. Yuki Matsuda actually emigrated from Japan to America in order to learn the craft of shoemaking from the real experts.

When he got there he spent years learning his craft before launching the Yuketen brand in 1985. Even today, 25 years later, Yuketen shoes are still being made by hand.

And when you look at it like that, it's no wonder these things sell out straight away, and it's also no surprise that Yuketen can be found in so few stockists.

But the good thing is that you will only ever actually need to track down Yuketen once in a decade or so - the shoes are so well made they'll take you miles before they wear out.

But possibly not as far as your search will take you to find a pair.

PS: Before you say anything, I know Oi Polloi has just got a delivery in, but they have to be the worst looking selection of these shoes I've ever seen. Dover Street Market has some too. Also try the Inventory.

Brand watch: Kaws' Original Fake

I've been keeping my eye on Original Fake for a while now. Here is proof that vandalism can pay, as long as you have the right contacts.

Kaws, who has launched this clothing and toy line with Medicom of Japan, is a New York graffiti artist who made a name for himself through the simple application of spray painted crosses over the eyes of images in bus shelter adverts.

Over the last 20 years or so those crosses and Kaws' connection with the NY art scene and Japanese clothing designers have blossomed into quite a brand.

Kaws toys, such as the Companion we can see in the picture, are regarded as art in themselves. That figure in the picture would cost in excess of $6,000, if you can find one. Other toys, in particular the earlier models, can fetch even more.

Then there is Kaws' art, which is essentially bastardised advertisements or images of naked women with strange cartoon heads. The originals are taken far more seriously in the art world than they ever should be - they even receive their own gallery exhibitions. But if you don't fancy splashing out tens of thousands on a vandalised advert you can find Kaws images on the Original Fake tee shirt line.

Which brings us to the clothing. It all started a bit garish, in that Bape cartoon romper suit manner. In fact before Original Fake was launched, Kaws did a collaboration line with Bape, putting crosses on the eyes of Baby Milo and running chomper teeth prints (a Kaws trademark) down the zippers of Bape hoodies. Nigo even did a camo design featuring the Kaws worm.

But this year Original Fake has found its true identity. The quality is second to none and the trademark crosses and chomper teeth feature with restraint on the garments. The price is astronomical, but at least you're not going to look a fool with the stuff on.

And of course, just like his artwork, you can find Original Fake hardly anywhere, ensuring the possibility of appreciation in terms of the value of pristine pieces. It's like wearing a piece of art.