Talkin’ With Yuki

A while back I had the wonderful opportunity to talk to Yuki Matsuda of Yuketen. I’ve always been a huge admirer of his designs, especially Monitaly. Yuketen has really paved the way for the resurgence of Made in the USA footwear and continues to remind folks that there is still great stuff made here (sorry American Apparel).

I spoke with him a bit about his vision and ideas for Fall/Winter 2010. Here’s what he had to say…

What motivated you to start Yuketen and become a company who manufactures in the USA when few companies were?

What motivated me was the desire to become involved with design and manufacturing of made in USA products because I love classic made in USA product design and ingenuity.  So, it’s important for me to maintain made in USA origins for traditional things and to promote the increasing uniqueness of made in USA wearable products.

You’ve said before that your inspiration for designs come from your mind, what has been on your mind while designing this current season?

Vintage real American life from Maine and New Hampshire.

Yuketen has been getting bigger and bigger (and for good reason) over the past few years. How do you think the company has changed from when it was first founded in 1989?

I started Meg Company with my wife’s help in 1989. We didn’t have an office at that time. I used my apartment as an office and my garage as a warehouse.  Now, twenty years later, we employ 18 people and I truly think we have the best team ever!

Are there any designers you look to currently or admire right now?

Nigel Cabourn, Koji Norihide, Stefano Ughetti, Keizo Shimizu, Daiki Suzuki

Last but not least, what do you want your customers to experience from your products?

I hope our customers enjoy our shoes or bags as though they are made especially for them.  Kind of like a best friend.  A constant companion.

When you travel as frequently as I do, you will inevitably scrape, scratch, stain, or wrinkle your shoes or bag which is part of a person’s outward characteristics.  Aging gracefully, that is the history of a person’s life and I hope our customers will enjoy any Yuketen product’s durability to the fullest to become best friends with their Yuketen gear.

Well put Mr. Matsuda, well put.

Check out more Yuketen at www.yuketen.com