Tag: Mizuno

Since 1906 Mizuno has become a household name known to many across the globe by producing top quality products to help improve all-round lifestyle and sporting performance. From baseball to athletics, the Japanese outfit prides itself on quality. Getting to know the story behind a particular piece of footwear is something we love to find out at Footpatrol. From the initial concept, through to the development stages and finally the finished article… But how is this achieved? Recently, we chopped it up with the man behind the legendary Mizuno Wave Rider, Tuan Le and took a dive into his life and career as a design specialist within an ever changing, fast paced industry. 

Footpatrol: Tuan we want to thank you for giving us the time to speak to you! How are you?

Tuan Le: I’m good thank you, I am also very honoured to be able to speak to you guys. You are my type of people, all we want to do is talk about shoes! 

FP: Before we talk about your career let’s kick things with a bit of an introduction on yourself, who you are and you found yourself getting into footwear design?

TL: I was born during the craziest time of the Vietnam war of which we lost, I later moved to America when I was 15 years old when the war ended. My communication to the war around that time was through drawing, I am really good at drawing and it became my way of expression to anyone around me. 

I went to college to study and after a little bit got asked to join Reebok for about 8 years. I joined at just the right time too, it became hugely successful off the back of the little thing called Aerobics! It even became bigger than Nike at the time. [However], my career at the time wasn’t in line with what I wanted to do, I didn’t want to be a fashion designer as such, but more of a function/practical designer where what I produce has purpose. On the back of [my early successes] I received many recruitment phone calls from many brands but, one brand stood out for me and that was Mizuno. Mizuno were known for their technical product and that’s what I wanted. I wanted to help come up with comfortable and technical cushioning devices to avoid injury etc… Mizuno asked me to move to San Francisco and strangely enough it snowed in Boston that winter. That snowfall was the defining moment that I packed my things and moved over the West Coast. 

It ended up being a 30 year partnership between me and Mizuno and to this day I love to work with them! I absolutely love what I do, it turned into a career of which I could have never imagined. I hope I will get to this forever even if it’s just through my love for drawing. 

FP: I love that whole story! One thing I love about Mizuno is that they have dominated nearly every sport since they were founded in 1906, the best part about it is that they never feel the need to rave about the success because they know what they do works. 

TL: I agree! 

FP: Just to talk about your role itself. How has the job developed over the years? We read that once upon a time you were known as a graphic designer as sneaker design roles weren’t really a thing. 

TL: [When I started my career] you had a factory, the shoe maker and a pattern cutter who designed the uppers for the shoe, so there was never a need for shoe designers as such within the industry, it was like they never heard of it. It was a whole thing of a foreign office working with far away factories. I would sit in the office and make a design with input from the marketing and sales teams, that would then go to the factory to be made, the sample returned, I’d make the corrections and then send it back to the factory again. What I didn’t realise at the time 30 years ago, is that this way of work would become the way we design shoes today. No one in the offices ever goes to the factories, we sit at our far away desks, draw a beautiful drawing and then email it over to the factory. 

FP: You are known at Mizuno for designing the legendary Wave Rider 1 and also the lesser known Wave Rider 2 model. How did you conceptualise the Wave Rider 1?

TL: It was around the late 80s when Nike dropped the first Air Max trainer with the big Air unit. Mizunos shoes at the time were going downhill from the back of it and were struggling with sales. Mr. Mizuno himself even said to me, you got one more chance or we may have to close the whole shoe department! So we went away and had a think and came up with the idea of rather than having a really big air bag like Nike, why not create a super thin piece of mechanical that goes down as its compressed and springs back as its released, so we then drew the Wave plate into the midsole, I felt it was the perfect shape to create this effect. When we sent the ideas to the factory to try, they had never even attempted anything like that before so it took many attempts before we got it right. By the time we released Wave Rider 1 it ended up being a big failure and no one cared about it! When you put EVA and plastic together you need to create enough open space for the Wave plate to be able to contract and expand as it’s worn to create that energy return. At the time it was something our factory couldn’t quite get. By the time we released the Wave Rider 2, we figured it out, the Wave Rider 2 was really the groundbreaking model for Mizuno Running. Even Mr. Mizuno came up to us and said you guys got it, I’m not going to close the shoe department anymore! 

FP: Knowing that you are a very keen runner. Is the running part of that your mental prep for the day?

TL: For many years I found a certain kind of click that makes my mind work. Every morning I go out for a run and whilst my mind thinks about living and eating healthy, I think to myself about how I am not here to train for a marathon but here for a lifelong marathon, I want to be able to do it for 50/60 years. So when someone comes up to me and says I have the crazy idea, can you help me, I always say yes because I am constantly mentally prepared for these things. 

FP: Speaking of pens actually! As the industry has developed, have you joined the paperless world or stuck to the classic pen and paper?

TL: Pen and paper always! I read a study from some scientists once, that as you draw and the outer part of your palm touches the paper as you’re resting your hand it sends signals to your brain and gets your ideas following! I never want to give that feeling up. 

FP: Tuan What is the perfect shoe for you?

TL: I don’t know if there is one yet. I tend to spend the winter time in my house in Florida and usually only take one pair of shoes. Within one month I will throw them out because I am always running. I need shoes to be light, simple and last longer than a month, I need them to last at least 6 months!

After a while of wearing EVA although it has its benefits, after a while it gets so compressed that it loses those benefits. So as for the perfect shoe we haven’t made it yet but we are always striving with the industry to produce it. 

FP: Something I wanted to ask you that I saw on your website was the Mizuno car design you had. Did that ever become a real thing?

TL: Back in 1990, Mr. Mizuno said we have sponsored a Porsche for the 24hr Le Mans race, can you draw up a graphic. I said with so much excitement yes! I did the design and they ended up placing 8th on the day. I think there is even plenty of footage out there if you want to see it. 

FP: We’ve heard you had or have a Mustang too. Have motor sports had an influence on your designs?

TL: I do yes, I have a 1966 Mustang red with 2 racing stripes down the middle. A friend of mine sadly passed away and his family sold it to me after his passing to look after it, so I have a duty to make sure the car is maintained. I’ve always been a big fan of motorsports, the history of car design on how they have got to where they are now fascinates me, my favourite example of this is the Porsche 911. The way they have kept refining it over the years is what makes it the best car in the world to me, it looks the same as it did when it first came out. Same with aeroplanes, there are lots of planes that are produced but like cars they look the same but they make adjustment after adjustment to make it perform better. I can’t help but appreciate the thought process these designers go through to be able to do that.

FP: Now the real focus of this interview is actually Mizuno Mujin TL. The upper that you once designed and never came out. Could you tell us the story of how it all came about and why it got held back until now?

TL: If you ever find yourself in Portland, Oregon I will show you. One of the easiest conversations I had with our guys in Japan was about a bunch of drawings that I have stacked up in boxes. When I say boxes I mean boxes! You could stack them up and they would be taller than me. They asked me if they could come over and see them. So the team from Japan flew over, we laid out all the drawings everywhere and they all took a stack each. Some of these drawings I believe will be coming out in the not too distant future! 

FP: Did you intend for it to be a trail based shoe? I know the sole unit is from a Mujin 8.

TL: So the idea actually came from Saito-san, when he came over to go through the drawings, he saw the upper and thought this would be cool to do on a trail shoe. I naturally agreed simply because I always run on trails. When I first designed the upper years ago though I don’t think we planned for it to be a trail based shoe though.

FP: If you had to do a special edition Tuan Le colourway how would that look to you? What would be your ideal look for it?

TL: As long as it looks fast I don’t mind. Fast and bright colours! 

FP: Take a little side step now. In your opinion, how would you compare the past, present and future of Mizuno?  

TL: The way I was attracted to the brand is the true sense of what Mizuno does best. Functional, well made product that doesn’t need much marketing because of how good they are. There have been times over the years where Mizuno have tried to take a different direction and failed. So we felt that for Mizuno things need to stay the way they always are because it works and it’s what they do so well at. The times where they have tried to compete with brands like Nike and try to be them and later realised we are just too different and need to stay in our own lane. We need to focus on providing functional footwear in the best materials and the best technology. That’s why I love it here because Mizuno still does just that.

FP: What about the concept of 3D printing shoes? Giving consumers a space to see their purchase come to life in front of them.

TL: I love the idea! I think it’s amazing, we had a few products in the works aiming for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics which would have allowed the customer to see the shoes made whilst they were waiting. Unfortunately that never happened due to the circumstances for the Olympics. I would like to do more of that, I think it would really help out with the sampling process too in design saving the wait from the factory. 

FP: Tuan just out of interest did you have any influence on the Mizuno Right Here Right Now releases?

TL: No, I wasn’t a part of that project. I have been working with the Advance Concepts team in Osaka though and some of the things we did in that got passed down to that project.  

FP: Tuan I want to reiterate our thanks for sparing us some time to speak to you. It’s been a real pleasure to talk to the man behind some of Mizunos best shoes. Before we let you go, are there any words of advice you can give to any young enthusiasts trying to make their way into the industry?

TL: Your own personality is key. If you are a designer, find who you are as a person, maybe you are special, that will naturally pass through into your designs and drawings. You will be able to continue this for the next 30/40 years because you are being who you truly are. Throughout my career I genuinely feel that because I have stayed true to myself, and because of that has given me a truly amazing career.

Behind the scenes we have had the opportunity to work with multiple creatives across a wide variety of disciplines. Styling is one area though that isn’t as widely spoken about… You know about them, but you don’t really hear much. 

We wanted to meet up with london based Jack Ray to give a little more insight into what it takes to work within the industry. From music videos to marketing campaigns. Jack has had his little tastes of it all. 

For the launch of the Mizuno Wave Rider 10 we wanted to work with Jack to show us a bit of a behind the scene look of what he would normally get up to. We linked up at Jacks Sons of Craft studio to make some magic and give people a little more insight into the world of a stylist. 

Click here to shop the Mizuno Wave Rider 10!

Footpatrol: Jack it’s great to sit down and chat to you! How have you been?

I’ve been good thanks mate, how have you been?

FP: Not bad thank you! We have had the pleasure of working with you a fair few times now and have gotten to know you fairly well. For those Footpatrol followers who may not have had the pleasure of being introduced, could you give them a bit of backstory as to who you are and what you do?

So, my name is Jack Ferguson-Ray and I am a stylist, designer and creative consultant and currently based in east London.  

FP: Let’s start from the very beginning. Bath born and bred, moved to London and now establishing yourself as a stylist. What was the kick starter into this journey, was this something you have always planned on getting into?

No definitely wasn’t something I planned on getting into. Initially I wanted to work in skiing. I’m not sure what career that would have led to but I just wanted to ski. I did that for a bit whilst in Canada. Then for one reason or another which I won’t get into now, I found myself back in the UK. From there I moved to London not really knowing what to do and soon after found myself working at Harvey Nichols, believe it or not that was my entrance into working within the fashion industry hahaha. I later went to a small boutique store in old street station called Ejder [which unfortunately isn’t around anymore] doing the styling, which was my first real taste of the role. I have done a plethora of other jobs;  dabbled in wholesale for A Cold Wall, opened a store for a Japanese company and all sorts of freelance bits really. 

At the moment I have been working on a company called Sons of Craft founded by two friends of mine. Sons of Craft is a collective which has outlets within a number of creative mediums like art, fashion, music etc… My role is very much fashion based though. I am also a design intern at Oswald Boateng and I am currently working on a brand with a friend. We are hoping to launch our first capsule in the coming months. 

FP: Was there anyone that helped influence you to want to be a stylist?

Jack Ray: To be honest with you, not really. There are obviously people whose style has influenced and inspired me and I’m sure there are stylists behind them. But before getting into fashion I didn’t really know that styling was a job, let alone a viable career path. I probably still wouldn’t even call myself a stylist as this is only the start of my career. I am a long way off from fully establishing myself yet. 

FP: How has it been trying to make your mark in what you do? It’s not an easy industry to get into.

JR: To be honest I don’t think I’ve really made all that much of a mark yet to talk about! Check in a couple more years and I will let you know though! From what I have been a part of though, So far, so good. It’s had its moments! 

FP: How did you stay on top of what you do?

JR: That is a great question! 

FP: Thanks!

JR: Write stuff down and don’t put things off. A lot of the time, it doesn’t feel like I am on top of everything I need to do. It’s just a case of being as proactive as you can as well as being as organised as possible. I feel that’s one thing I didn’t really think about when getting into a creative career. You don’t really think of the oragnisational side of it and how on top of it you need to be. So it’s definitely been a learning curve. 

FP: Having worked with brands, retailers, music artists recently styling a few music videos. Is there a specific type outlet that you try to dedicate your focus on or is it something you try to be diverse in?

JR: At the moment, aesthetically I think I am finding my niche. In terms of how I want to apply it I am open to anything, it’s still early doors………………………….. other than e-comm.

FP: And is there a list of dos or don’ts on a shoot?

JR: Depends on who you’re shooting with. Aside from the obvious, don’t cuss anyone out haha! Be proactive and don’t be afraid to try things out and ask questions. Make sure you know your role, there will be times you may only get to steam and pin things. If that’s the case, respect that and make the best of it. There will be other points where you have more creative control and it’s about being able to identify those opportunities and make the most from it. 

Be nice to people, it costs nothing  and at the end of the day it’s about making organic connections with people. Try to have a nice time…

FP: What about projects you’ve worked on. Any that have stuck with you as the most memorable?

JR: Of course I love working with Footpatrol! Salomon, Kiko Asics to name a few. I am sure there will be many more! Styling Brent Faiyaz  was also great. I have been able to also work with some amazing people, particularly photographers; Alma Rosa, Marlon Francis, Tyler Little and of course Tom from Footpatrol. All definitely worth a watch if you’re not already.

FP: Let’s take a little side step now. I wanted to talk to you about Mizuno and the model we brought you in to shoot, the Wave Rider 10 OG. What are your thoughts on the shoe and the moves the brand has been making within the lifestyle market over the last 3 years?

JR: If I am completely honest. 3 years ago I didn’t know Mizuno at all. BUT! Over the last couple of years with some of the silhouettes they have been releasing, they have caught my eye. The Wave Rider 10 being one of them. I love the all grey pair! The Wave Prophecy is my favourite shoe from the brand though, it looks so hard! I think that shoe is mad slept on and I have no idea why. Also the Mizuno Right Here Right Now [RHRN] is one of your favourite shoes from them, I don’t have them yet but I will. 

For a performance brand to come into a new market the way they have and be accepted across both footwear and fashion with such intrigue is a nice change from the general hype. 

Put it this way. I would pick a pair of Mizunos over a pair of Nikes anyday.

FP: Jack it has been a real pleasure to talk to you. Before we let you go we want to ask if there was any exciting project or anything happening in 2021 that you want to give the FP followers and readers the inside scoop on or just get people excited for?

JR: There’s not a lot I can shed all that much light on at this precise moment, but there’s irons in the fire. We have some really exciting projects coming out with Sons of Craft. Also some music videos as well which should be exciting! As I mentioned earlier, I am working on a brand with a partner and the first collection should hopefully be launching in the not too distant future.