Hello.
This is Noguchi from CASANOVA&CO.
Today, I'd like to introduce PETROSOLAUM.
Sandals, indispensable for the coming season, and a mesh belt with the exact nuance I was looking for, have arrived.
...well, actually, they arrived about a month ago, but I just put them on display in the store today. (laughs)
The weather has become warmer, so I think it's time for sandals.
PETROSOLAUM
Cage sandals
material _ Cage horse membrane
color _ black
size _ 39,40,41,42
The Cage sandals are back again this year.
Although this is only the second time I'm introducing them, I think they can already be recognized as a masterpiece.
They offer comfort, a specification that cannot be ignored for footwear, along with the lightness typical of sandals and the coolness of something to wear.
They perfectly satisfy all these aspects, while also boasting a unique backstory and meticulous craftsmanship.
There is no sense of "sandals are inherently casual, so it's fine to be sloppy" with the Cage sandals.
The mesh weave is commonly known as "yatsume-ami" (octagonal weave).
It's a technique used in bamboo crafts, known as a traditional craft of Oita Prefecture, but PETROSOLAUM has adapted it to shoemaking using horse leather.
Horse leather is cut into strips about 1cm wide, and the core material is wrapped to minimize overlapping leather, forming 5mm wide leather tapes.
These are then hand-woven into the yatsume-ami pattern.
The resulting sheet-like yatsume-ami, when cut to fit the upper, unravels and falls apart. Therefore, it is necessary to temporarily secure it to the cutting size before cutting.
Because such a special and tedious process is required, the cutting cannot be done at a factory, so Mr. Ogino himself does the cutting at PETROSOLAUM's atelier.
I feel like I wrote about this in last year's blog too, but I believe that having the option to overcome such "it can't be produced" situations with their own hands is the greatest strength of designers who can create things, including PETROSOLAUM.
It goes without saying that it's rare and the technique is superb, but more than that, I find the appeal in the fact that "things that couldn't be made otherwise can be made."
In this era where anyone can call themselves a designer, it's incredibly cool for someone to overcome challenges that others would give up on, with their own hands.
Behind the refined appearance of the yatsume-ami, I sense a passion, an energy, and a strong presence.
The heel strap has three holes.
When you first choose them, I think it's best if they fasten at the middle or loosest hole.
One of the strong points of Cage sandals is that they can be worn both barefoot and with socks, so I think it's best to break them in with that kind of fit.
For sizing, there are no half sizes available, so I think the same selection method as for O-Last is fine.
In other words, compared to 03Last sizes, it's a half or one size up.
Please feel free to ask for a detailed size guide; we can assist you in-store, by phone, email, or even letter correspondence.
PETROSOLAUM
Cage sandals
material _ Cage horse membrane
color _ brown
size _ 39,40,41
And this year, a new color has arrived.
Brown, which feels even more elegant and seductive than black.
It's a reddish brown, and especially in the mesh part, the subtle differences in color and texture of each leather tape are more apparent than in black, which I think gives it a really great expression.
Brown seems to win out when it comes to the joy of pairing with colored or patterned socks.
The color of the outsole is also a rich natural color, matching the upper.
The black one matches the color.
Actually, now is the perfect time for sandals.
If we wait for the rainy season to pass, rain will increase, and by the time it clears, it will already be summer.
Let's plan to break in our sandals with socks from this moderately warm season, and then go barefoot when summer truly arrives.
Whether you're discovering them for the first time this year or missed out on your size last year, I hope you'll take a look soon.
...and then,
PETROSOLAUM
Hand braided handle belt
color _ black
size _ 2,3
The new mesh belt.
This is the best.
For a long time, I've been using T.T.'s mud-dyed belt as my go-to, and while I'm incredibly satisfied with it, the roller buckle was a small drawback.
It's great because it's infinitely adjustable, but I felt it gave off a slightly casual "gacha belt" vibe, so it didn't quite fit when wearing a jacket or a suit. That was the challenge.
At that point, of course I had a plain leather belt that I could use, but I was in the mood for a mesh belt.
However, this mesh belt thing was a formidable opponent.
The mesh belt exists as a classic option in the world of belts, so I think a wide range of them are made, from cheap to expensive, but I had never found a mesh belt that embodied what I was looking for.
The reason is that when you look for a well-made mesh belt without unnecessary adornments, the options suddenly skew towards only classical nuances.
However, the clothes I usually wear are all brands carried by CASANOVA&CO, so if only the belt suddenly became "made in Italy, classical," I felt it wouldn't be a cool kind of mismatch. Even if I found a belt I thought was good, I never bought it.
And then, when I had almost given up on belts, there was the PETROSOLAUM exhibition.
I decided on it within 3 seconds of seeing it.
The quality of the leather,
the fineness of the mesh,
the balance with the buckle,
and its understated presence.
I think it's perfect.
There's genuinely not a single "I wish it were more like this" thought.
It feels like a dream come true.
The base material is the same original horse leather tape as the Cage sandals I mentioned earlier.
This is hand-braided.
However, it's not a regular hand-mesh.
The part near the buckle is a normal flat weave, but
It transforms into a round braid mid-way.
In other words, it's an irregular hand-mesh, where the belt starts flat with a plain weave, changes into a tubular round braid in the middle, and then returns to a plain weave near the tip.
It's hard to see, but you can discern the change in the weave from the back.
Of course, such an irregular specification can only be done by hand.
When I was looking for a mesh belt before encountering this one, I vaguely thought "it would be nice if it was handmade," but there was no clear reason for that.
However, this is different.
It's not that "handmade is good," but that there's a "reason for it to be handmade," which I thought was invaluable.
This also ties back to the story about cutting the Cage sandals earlier, but I don't insist on the simple added value of handmade equals good.
I'm sure Mr. Ogino thought, "Let's create something unique to PETROSOLAUM" when making this mesh belt, and I believe the true value lies in expressing that idea through a design only achievable by the hands of a craftsman.
If the finished product is incredibly cool, then whether it's handmade or not becomes a secondary point, not the main topic.
But I think that's fine.
How it's made is certainly important, but I think the "style" that the item possesses is even more crucial.
In that regard, the handmade process was simply necessary.
In that sense, I think this PETROSOLAUM mesh belt truly embodies the PETROSOLAUM style.
I had staff member Ohno wear size 2.
Since he has a slim waist, even size 2 hangs a little long on him.
I think size 2 should fit anyone up to about 32 inches.
It transitions from a flat weave to a round weave at the side.
From the back, it looks like it's tied with a leather tube.
In the coming season, tops will be lighter and shirts or t-shirts may be tucked in, and this belt alone can create a distinctive look.
It's just a belt, yet it's a belt.
The reason I've been tucking in my SARTO shirts so much lately is because I was inspired by this belt. (laughs)
I was reminded that a belt is not just for holding up pants, but can also influence one's entire outfit.
If you're interested, please give it a try.