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

I’ve been waiting to put this up for a while now, I know spring/summer just hit stores but these new kicks from Yuketen are the bees knees!

Angler Moccs, Hunting Boots, Maine Guides and even that slick red parka from Monitaly!

Ryan from Yuketen modeling the parka and carrying a gun actually? ha

Yuketen is one of those brands that most folks have “seen around” but really forget how amazing the quality and construction of the shoes are. The company was started by Yuki Matsuda, who immigrated from Japan to the US to study shoes and american craftsmanship.

Yes, yes I know most of you are like I’m aware of this show me the kicks already!

This is one of my favorites – the “Ghillie Hunt Boot”, made with an unbelievably durable scotch grain leather on a natural crepe sole.

Scotch grain leather is such a versatile leather as it can look really rugged and casual like this, or elegant on a pair of long wings.

The Maine Guide Boot is now a staple part of the F/W collection, look for this in cordovan in a couple stores soon! (will probably be crazy expensive)

More hunt boots, this time with a strap, I dig!

Also you can’t expect them to always make the most conservative collection can you?

Of course not, so they also have loafers like this…

nice right?

I’ll throw up the cordovan collection next week. It’s beautiful!

Spring is chasing down winter in NYC today.

In my opinion this is the perfect outfit for one of those days. Most likely your office is blasting the heat to compensate the low temperature this morning. So it helps to have  a lighter (I wear madras year round) shirt, some cotton cargos and dirty bucks. If you’re a wuss like me and you’re never warm enough you can wear a knit cap (one of my favorites)

Is it Groundhog day yet?

Shirt by J.Crew

Pants by Mark McNairy for ACL

Shoes by Yuketen

Hat by J.Press

Another favorite of (capsule) for me was Yuketen.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with brand Yuketen was founded by Yuki Matsuda (above) who used to work in a “Made In The USA” shop in Japan. He had always admired hand sewn moccasins and immigrated to the US to do so. With an unbelievable commitment to quality. Yuketen’s shoes are perhaps the finest hand sewn shoes on the planet. Unfortunately quality comes with a price. Your average Yuketen is over 3 hundo. Though they do go on sale and yes exist on eBay.

Check out some of the other looks

Crocodile Baby!

1930's Inspired Work Boot

Whiskey Shell Cordovan Penny Loafer

Chukka Boot

More Handmade Boots