[Column #02, Part 1] The reason why Mr. Nishizaki’s engineer boots from ATTRACTIONS continue to fascinate fans.
The reason BILTBUCK engineers continue to captivate fans to this extent.
In this column, we delve into the "core" of the brands we carry at our shop, interviewing the creators directly to get up close with the brand's unique character and background!
For this installment, we spoke with Mr. Nishizaki, representative of ATTRACTIONS, about making BILTBUCK engineer boots. From how they select leather and improve standard items, to behind-the-scenes stories that haven't been shared publicly until now.
We started by asking him why he chose engineer boots in the first place.
Before I knew it, I was only making engineer boots
Hayashi: We started carrying your items at our shop 10 years ago. Among the brands handled by ATTRACTIONS, the BILTBUCK engineer boots were incredibly comfortable and a shocking discovery for me. You’ve been continuously making engineer boots ever since, haven't you? Could you tell us about that?
Rep. Nishizaki: I’ve been wearing engineer boots for most of the year for a long time. When it comes to shoes, for me, it’s just engineer boots. That’s the reason why I need them, or rather, why I love them.
I didn't originally intend to keep changing the leather or creating so many different lasts (shoe forms). I just thought I'd make one pair, and after making that, I wanted to make something different. It reached the point where I realized I was only making engineer boots.
There are concepts behind the design and the last, right? I just happened to end up here because I fit the leather material to match those concepts. It wasn't really a planned thing.
Even horsebutt didn't work out at first
Hayashi: They say that horsebutt is a difficult material to handle, don't they?
Rep. Nishizaki: It might be different if you get technical, but I think we were probably the first to use horsebutt in engineer boots and bring it to market. Back in the day, horsebutt was considered one type of horsehide, so I think people just called it horsehide. Since you’re getting the thickness from the butt, maybe some places were using it.
We deliberately put "horsebutt" in the product name to indicate that "we are using the butt." That’s why I think it got recognized. But at first, it didn’t work out. It would crack, and there were issues with the boundaries of the cordovan layer. We went through a lot of trial and error, and with the help of the factory, we were gradually able to make them. Isn't it just difficult to use horsebutt in a standard way?
Hayashi: That's true. I hear from many people that it's impossible to mass-produce.
Rep. Nishizaki: Also, we actually use materials on the inside that others don’t really use. Not just for the upper, but for the midsole as well.
The sole is also original. There is an oil-resistant sole, but it’s too expensive to be used normally. That might be why they are so comfortable to wear.
Hayashi: It’s amazing how you narrow down and discover those kinds of materials.
Rep. Nishizaki: I wear our current standard items brand new. I’ll wear them before a business trip and think, "they're still too stiff" or "I can't wear these for a long time." I always consult about things like that and have them improved.
Hayashi: So you continue to make improvements while listening to the opinions of the factory and various other people.
Even products that are selling well are actually being improved repeatedly
Rep. Nishizaki: Our heritage trousers have been selling well for a long time, but we actually renewed the patterns at a level you wouldn't notice.
There were things that bothered me, so I fixed them. Even if you line them up, you can't tell, but I think it feels different when you wear them. That’s something I’ve always done with our standard items.
I’m also making slight adjustments to the shirts this time, but you probably won't be able to tell. I’m actually tweaking our leather jackets little by little as well. It’s improvement, improvement, improvement on the parts that bother me.
I’m sure some people think, "Why change it if it's already selling?" But it’s annoying, isn't it? Selling something that bothers you.
Hayashi: So it ends up bothering you.
Rep. Nishizaki: It does bother me. When I do wear tests, I end up noticing things. But if I leave them as they are, I think everything else would end up that way too. I want to delight our customers, after all. That sentiment becomes excessive, and I can't stop. (Laughs)
The second part will cover the behind-the-scenes of our photoshoot and the buckles of the new engineer boots.
We will share behind-the-scenes stories that aren't normally made public, from why we changed the thickness of the pins to details about the soles.
Stay tuned♪
You can view the products currently in stock here ↓
