Introducing: SUBU

Pioneers of what the brand has best coined the ‘winter sandal’, premium footwear label SUBU arrives at Always in Colour to provide both the leisurely and outdoor orientated segments of the contemporary market with a selection of functional and fashionable slip-ons built for modern day lifestyles. Merging cultural appreciation with an admiration for function focused footwear that doesn’t compromise on comfort, SUBU’s minimalist guise and artisanal narrative combine well to celebrate custom in line with contemporary design.

Inspired by their concept, Tokyo-based SUBU turns to Japanese heritage for its influence. Although traditionally a clear divide is drawn between the outside and inside when it comes to footwear, with most homes, traditional ryokan’s and religious temples requiring shoes to be left in the entrance area (the genkan), SUBU challenges new perspectives with its continually growing collection of all season and all terrain slippers. A tribute to heritage, kimono associated designs such as the unfinished wooden Geta, Zori and Setta sandals, as well as to the Waraji sandals worn by many Buddhist monks on their spiritual journeys, SUBU, named after the Japanese expression ‘suttu haku būtsu’ (‘to put on in the blink of an eye’) is a brand that represents the freedom to go wherever you like whilst still respectful of borrowed cultural and artisanal traditions.

Pairing a pronounced appreciation for evolving winter footwear culture with retained Japanese values, SUBU transfers the comfort and unrivalled insulation of a down jacket into an iconic slip-on silhouette. Designed to be worn at home, outdoors and even whilst travelling, the classic SUBU Sandal is crafted from quilted nylon ripstop to create a padded upper built to lock-in warmth for a soothing and relaxing wear. The raised polyester interior honours cultural reference as it pays tribute to the raised floorings across Japanese houses that allow for comfortable, shoeless settings, whilst the four layer insole fuses seamlessly to the outsole for a streamlined and simplified wear. Teflon coated and designed to be rain and snow repellent as well as resistant to dirt, the SUBU Sandal also receives a compactible reiteration in the form of the Packable Sandal. Designed for use whilst camping or whilst travelling, the 2019 debuting SUBU Packable is perfect for outdoor excursions, whilst the all new SUBU Nannen is crafted from flame retardant 350D Cordura® and is specifically designed for outdoor use.

Styled with similarity to The North Face’s ThermoBall™ Eco Mules, as well as to Neustadt-based Birkenstock’s anatomically shaped Boston BS, SUBU Sandals cater to both indoor and outdoor necessity in equal measure, with the brand’s ‘one small step at a time’ ethos focused on celebrating favoured objects and new adventures with respect to all-time comfort and the freedom to explore nature’s surroundings without complication.

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