Craftsmanship

Brightway's manufacturing

Shoemaking is said to involve more than 200 steps.
Thanks to the cooperation of many partners, we are now able to deliver a pair of shoes to you for the first time.

We will bring you a behind-the-scenes look at shoemaking.

Last Making

All shoemaking begins with the wooden last.
A wooden shoe tree is like a "blueprint" that determines the silhouette and comfort of a shoe based on the shape of a person's foot.

At brightway, we pursue the ideal shape that suits the Japanese frame.
We conducted extensive research by disassembling and trying on dozens of pairs of sneakers and leather shoes.

There is a little room in the width of the foot, and a snug fit around the heel.
It combines the comfort of sneakers with the elegant hold of leather shoes.

After repeated prototyping and testing, we have finally arrived at the perfect pair of shoes."

Brightway's "making shoes you can love for 10 years" began with this wooden shoe tree.

Outsole Making

Once the wooden shoe tree is complete, the shoemaking process moves on to developing the outsole, which greatly affects the comfort of the shoe.

At brightway, we use two types of soles that we have developed ourselves.

Rubber Sole
We repeatedly experimented with the rubber composition, thickness, and even the shape of the hollow space inside, in pursuit of a flexible and stable fit.

EVA Sole
Made from a lightweight resin material, it offers the same lightness and cushioning as running shoes. Despite its volume, it is also resistant to fatigue and wear.

Both soles offer Brightway's original comfort, achieved through a long period of development.

You'll feel the difference every time you take a step.

Material

At brightway, we develop materials and parts together with producers in Japan whenever possible, and value face-to-face manufacturing**.

The goal is not cost or efficiency.
We engage in careful dialogue and approach manufacturing with sincerity.
I believe that this will lead to the creation of truly great shoes.

We cherish the "joy of making" that can only be shared between creators,
We respect each other as we tailor each pair of shoes.

Leather: The charm of leather, a material that carries life

Leather largely determines the impression and comfort of leather shoes.

At brightway, we team up with excellent tanners (leather producers) across the country, and work together with them from material development onwards.

The founder, Seiichiro Ueda, personally visited tanneries all over Japan.
We have worked alongside artisans who share our thoughts and philosophies on manufacturing.

The upper is made of cowhide, each piece carefully finished in Himeji, Hyogo.
The lining and insole are made from soft domestic pig leather produced in Sumida, Tokyo.

Leather is a breathable material.
It absorbs sweat to prevent stuffiness on hot days, and keeps heat in to protect your feet on cold days.
It is truly a living material that combines the blessings of nature with human skill.

Since ancient times, people have tanned the leather they obtained as a food source and recycled it into clothing and shoes.
Brightway has inherited that spirit,
We value the use of sustainable materials that do not waste life.

Utilizing the sensibility cultivated over many years of making women's shoes,
High-quality leather used in pumps has been adapted into sneakers.
We continue to develop our own unique leather with the theme of combining beauty and comfort.

Design: Seeking essential beauty

What brightway values is creating "essentially good things."

Fashion trends change,
There is a reason why it continues to attract people's attention even after 100 years.
That's because it has "essential beauty that transcends time."

Brightway's designs also aim for this universality.

Japanese beauty is born from "beauty that is born from stripping away."
Rather than just simplifying
This streamlined beauty is born from thorough consideration of the user's lifestyle and functionality.

A pair of shoes that speaks for itself through the material and shape, without relying on logos or decorations.
We strive to create designs that will still be loved 10 years from now.

Less is more.

This is brightway's design philosophy.

Detail: Quiet functional beauty born from craftsmanship

Brightway shoes are made with artisanal skill even in the parts you can't see.

The stitching is delicate and understated, using the same needle thickness and pitch as high-heeled pumps.
It is a precise technique that flexibly joins the parts together while keeping the design under control.

Also, unusually for sneakers, there is no sponge around the heel.
It is sewn together using a traditional technique called "backstitching."
This creates a beautiful, streamlined line and makes the ankles look slimmer.

And the curve that goes deep under the ankle,
It also solves the problem of the ankles rubbing against the shoes that is unique to sneakers.

Behind the seemingly simple design lies
It is made with skilled craftsmanship cultivated over many years and meticulous attention to detail.

Inside Quality: Sincerity in the parts that cannot be seen.

When you wear brightway shoes, you feel a snug fit around your heel.

The leather counter (core material made of genuine leather) is what supports this comfort.

While many shoes use resin and plastic for cost and efficiency reasons,
At brightway, we deliberately choose genuine leather as the core material, which is time-consuming to use.

The lower layer of leather is reused and pasted with recycled paper to maintain its strength.
It is left to dry naturally for over 48 hours.

The reason why this "inefficient" manufacturing method has been continued for over 70 years.
This is because the shoes will conform to your feet, are less likely to cause blisters, and are a pair you can enjoy wearing for a long time.

What we value is
It's not about "how much it sells,"
"How long have you been using it?"

We create with sincerity, especially in the parts that cannot be seen.
These accumulated efforts are what create the comfort of brightway shoes.

Repair Long-lasting construction

Brightway's shoemaking is based on the idea that shoes can be worn for a long time.

In the process of attaching the sole to the shoe, a structure is used that allows the sole to be removed and replaced.

Until now, when the soles of sneakers wore down, the only option was to buy new ones.
At brightway, we replace the soles so you can take another step forward.

This technique is an application of the pump-making techniques that we have been using for many years.
Each pair is carefully finished by a skilled craftsman.

"I want to make shoes that people can still wear 10 years from now."
With this in mind, we have designed our products with repairs in mind from the design stage onwards.

We hope you will enjoy wearing your favorite pair of shoes for a long time as you develop them.
This is the origin of brightway's manufacturing.

*For details, please see the [Repair Service Page].

Finishing - The final step to bring out the beauty of the leather

The final step in shoemaking is finishing.
The finished shoes are then steamed with hot air to tighten the leather.
Furthermore, we use a special iron (soldering iron) to carefully polish every detail.

This process gives the leather a natural luster and firmness.
The result is beautiful, as if it were breathing.

At brightway, we carefully apply the same finishing touches to each pair of shoes when providing repair services.

Founder Yoshikazu Ueda said, "The greatest honor for a maker is to have customers want to wear their shoes even if it means having them repaired."
This sentiment continues to this day.

A pair of shoes is completed through over 200 steps and the hands of countless craftsmen.
As the final recipient of the "shoemaking baton relay," brightway
We deliver our products to you with Japanese technology and pride.

For more details, please see Behind the Shoemaking.