MoonStar has been making shoes in Kurume City, Fukuoka Prefecture, for more than 150 years. Its growth was the catalyst for the development of the rubber industry in this city. The company, which performs almost all of its processes on its own factory premises, supports the work and lives of many people in the area.
GYM CLASSIC; Meticulous craftsmanship prevents fatigue even after long wear
GYM CLASSIC is a modern reproduction of the training shoes produced in the 1960s. By reproducing the manufacturing process of those days, the silhouette is kept clean and the specifications are more durable. The "vulcanized method" takes more time and effort than gluing, but it allows them to create sneakers that strongly bond different materials and have flexible soles that do not peel off easily.
ALW SIDEGOA; All-weather footwear with canvas uppers and wide rubber for easy on/off
It can be worn on a sunny day and even in the rain by bonding the rubber to the canvas upper. The "vulcanized method" takes more time and effort than gluing, but it allows them to create sneakers that strongly bond different materials and have flexible soles that do not peel off easily. Easy to put on and take off, this shoe is recommended.
Attention to detail, perfected in-house.
Kurume City, a thriving center of the rubber industry, has been making shoes for over 150 years. Moonstar's factory, which carries out nearly all of its processes on its own premises, has become integrated into the community, resembling a town that provides livelihoods and jobs for many people.
For example, the company's own factory processes the fabric used in sneakers, casts the foot molds, formulates and processes the rubber soles, hand-screens the logo on the insoles, and manufactures parts and customizes factory machinery. The company performs most of the work that would normally be outsourced or seemingly unrelated to shoe manufacturing, as long as it is necessary in the process of making rubber-soled shoes. This supports the work and livelihoods of many people in the region and results in the continued production of good products.
The factory is marked by a brand logo that expresses the "moon and star," which is also the company's name. The site includes buildings with triangular roofs, which are rare in Japan today, and others that are more than 100 years old. In the shoe manufacturing process, shoe molds are usually made by machine from data created on a PC, but at MoonStar, craftsmen add even finer details to the mold base, one by one, by hand. By successfully combining machine and hand work in this way, the product is not only elaborate, but also finished as a product with added craftsmanship.
During our interviews with the factories and craftsmen, we felt that they were striving for comfort for the wearer and quality as a product that is part of everyday life. We believe that the balance between machine and hand techniques, cultivated over a long history, is behind the creation of products that are elaborate, beautiful, nostalgic and full of warmth.
Care and maintenance
Apply waterproofing spray before first use to prolong the life of your shoes.
After wearing the shoes, dust them off and store them in a dry, well-ventilated area to allow moisture to evaporate, as moisture can accumulate inside the shoes. Allowing a period of two days after wearing the shoes will also remove moisture from the inside of the shoes and reduce the formation of bacteria. A rotation between several pairs of shoes will help to ensure a long life for the shoes.
If the shoes will not be worn for a long period of time, they can be stored in a shoe keeper to keep them in good shape.
When washing in water, soak the shoes in diluted neutral detergent for 2 to 3 hours and rinse well. Insufficient rinsing will increase the probability of discoloration due to detergent residue.
For stains on rubber, use a rubber stain remover.
