This Singaporean shoemaker moved to Kyoto to make barefoot shoes by hand

Singaporean artisan Chin Shiying relocated to Kyoto, Japan to craft bespoke leather shoes by hand, only to discover she did not wish to wear the footwear she created. This realization eventually led her to the niche of barefoot footwear and a new life in Kyoto. A friend once shared that he had never experienced genuine comfort in his footwear until his twenties, after having his feet professionally measured to reveal they were wider than average.

This highlights the common experience of not recognizing the discomfort of ill-fitting shoes. Chin's work with Yanmaei, her Kyoto-based artisanal label, aims to provide shoes that allow the feet greater freedom of movement. These shoes feature thin, flexible soles, a lack of raised heels, and a wide toe box that encourages natural toe spreading.

Chin explains that conventional dress shoes often have narrow, pointed lasts and rigid soles, which restrict natural foot movement and contribute to body inefficiencies. Growing up, Chin dismantled toys and Barbie dolls, demonstrating her natural inclination towards problem-solving and craftsmanship. She attended fashion design school, initially planning to launch her own label.

However, a 2014 trip to Kyoto to visit her sister redirected her path. During her stay, she attended workshops at a local leather studio, captivated by the material's honesty and her desire to master it. After saving up, Chin returned to Kyoto in 2016, apprenticing with a leather artisan for a year, learning through hands-on experience.

She then launched her own leather accessories line, Senkoubou, in 2018, but faced the practical limitations of a handcrafted business during the pandemic. Inspired by barefoot shoes on Instagram, Chin enrolled in a shoemaking school in Tokyo to formalize her skills. She crafted various classic men's shoes, including oxfords and monk straps, but found herself preferring sneakers over her handmade creations.

Chin's barefoot shoe concept emerged from her experience and observation of her mother's struggles with finding comfortable shoes. Her hypermobile ankles led her to discover the benefits of barefoot shoes, and she aimed to create comfortable footwear that maintained the benefits of barefoot movement while providing the support of traditional shoes.