John Lobb, an English luxury footwear brand, has opened its first concept store in Shinmonzen, a historic area of Kyoto, and its seventh store in Japan.

The Kyoto store, designed by Japanese architect Yanagihara, features a spatial design while introducing a wide range of off-the-shelf shoes along with ​​customised products made to order.

Surrounded by specialised shops dealing in antiques and handcrafted products, the John Lobb store embraces the rise of craftsmanship in the area, from tea ceremony practitioners to kaiseki restaurant owners.

The new store presents the zoori, a traditional Japanese sandal usually worn with a kimono, which is hand-crafted and made with the brand’s leather.

In honour of the launch in Kyoto, John Lobb endorsed film director Hirokazu Kore-eda, who has received numerous film awards domestically and internationally. He wears the William double-buckle, John Lobb’s hallmark item.