Throwback 2025
Milano, Italy
For me, MILANO is a mysterious city where I find myself before I even realize it.
This update to the travel journal is quite a real-time story after a long time.
My continuous stay in Milan for just under two weeks was the longest ever. I finally returned yesterday.
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This time,MILANO DESIGN WEEK 2025I flew 15 hours by plane to Milan, Italy to exhibit. Yes, it’s far. It takes 15 hours even by direct flight.
In January at Maison & Objet Paris, I supported theBEFORE VINTAGE FURNITUREteam, and they invited me, saying, 'Why don’t you come to Milan Design Week too?'
The next day, I replied, 'I’m going.' I thought something fun would definitely happen if I went with this team.
The first time I visited Milan was when I was a company employee, in my early 20s.
I had a business trip opportunity to pick materials at a leather exhibition called Lineapelle.
This exhibition is now held in Milan, but back then it was held in Bologna, and I only stopped by Milan for a few days of research.
'I got a good chance. I’ll absorb as much as I can to connect it to the future.
I might never come again, so I’ll drink plenty of wine every day to the limit,' I thought.
(This was before I realized wine didn’t really suit me. This time too, I was happy to reunite with old friends locally and ended up drinking too much.)
Honestly, at first, I felt like I didn’t quite fit in Milan. I even thought I didn’t like it.
No, I definitely didn’t like anything except the food.
I never imagined I would visit regularly at least once every year and a half.
And now, since starting my own company, I have visited the city more than a dozen times.
However, as the saying goes, 'the more you chew, the more flavor you get,'
from the few visits, I gradually started to like it,
and this time, when I arrived at the airport, I thought, 'Yes, this mood. I’m back.' It’s strange.
I’ve also somehow figured out how to build relationships,
and at the bar I started going to every morning during this stay, coffee would come with a wink even if I didn’t order it, and I was able to communicate beyond words with the older lady in charge of sweets who doesn’t speak English, saying, 'Today’s apple pie turned out well, so please try it.'
I even made a local lady who came to the exhibition almost every day. She listened to many of our stories, nodded brightly saying 'Si, Si. Uh-huh,' and bought many items.
I want to tell my younger self,
'If you keep coming until around 40, you’ll gradually make friends in Milan.'
'You’ll find people who take an interest in you little by little and become more and more familiar with the city.'
AS A BIRD’sstandard model also has a model named MILAN,which actually became a hit item that has been steadily increasing in sales since last autumn.
Maybe some of you reading this journal are already wearing them.
To be honest, at first, these shoes are a bit stiff.
There’s a reason for that: this model was made with the concept of 'shoes that will take you on trips even 20 years from now,' so durability and stability are outstanding. They are made so you can walk without fatigue on any surface.
This model has many female users. Some may have taken time to break them in.
But don’t worry, trust us, and if you wear them little by little, they will slowly adapt to the shape of your feet.
After wearing them about 10 to 20 times, the leather fibers in the parts of your feet that bend a lot will loosen, and the shape of your bones will be memorized on the insole, making them a pair you won’t want to part with.
Those who have passed that stage will understand. You’ve never had shoes that became such a part of your body before.
Just like the city of Milan, which you find completely familiar before you know it.
MILAN sells out quickly as soon as it arrives and quickly journeys to customers.
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At one point, some customers waited up to 4 months, and deliveries to those with reservations are expected to be completed soon. Stock is quite low as of today, but the next shipment is planned around July to August.
We’d be happy if you feel free to come and try them on.
Now, since jet lag and fatigue remain,
I think I’ll wrap up this journal here.
Until now, I have been looking back on past trips as part of the Throwback Series, reflecting on what influenced our craftsmanship,
but this time, I’m glad to be able to share it quite in real time.
I hope you look forward to the next one as well.
We hope you will look forward to the next time as well.
