To be honest, we didn’t begin with a clear intention to “create a bespoke model.” Over time, through exhibitions and our day-to-day exchanges, I found myself naturally speaking with Otake from PATRICK more and more. We would talk about our brands, and gradually build things up from conversations that were closer to casual conversation—what we usually wear, what kind of shoes we choose in everyday life. It also mattered that Otake himself had been wearing CONFECT for a long time. At some point, a simple question came up almost naturally: “What kind of footwear feels right with CONFECT?”

I’d long felt that nest Robe / CONFECT shares a very similar approach to making things. It’s not only about choosing materials or how something looks when it’s finished, but about considering what happens after it’s used—how it continues to live with someone. That mindset overlaps naturally with what PATRICK has always valued in shoemaking. Personally, I’ve worn CONFECT for years, and I always felt, “This should be a great match.” So I was genuinely happy when this collaboration became a reality. And the fact that we could take it on as two brands that share the premise of being made in Japan was also a major appeal of this project.

When you touch the linen and natural materials used by nest Robe / CONFECT, you feel a sense of time embedded within them. Even when a material looks simple at first glance, it develops character as it’s used, and gradually conforms to the body. One of the starting points of this project was the question: “Can we translate that feeling into footwear?” Rather than creating sneakers and then pairing them with clothing, we wanted to explore what kind of footwear would feel natural as an extension of nest Robe / CONFECT’s clothing—something that belongs to the same line. It was meaningful that we could share that sensibility with PATRICK. Although PATRICK is a French brand, it’s also a brand that manufactures carefully in Japan. Beyond material and shape, we felt a strong commonality in how sincerely they approach making things—what processes they prioritize, who makes them, and in what environment.

Both nest Robe and CONFECT have long treated linen as an essential material. In clothing, changes over time—the way a fabric shifts and softens—are often considered part of its beauty. Shoes, however, demand practicality as well. Still, our question came first: how can we express footwear that, like clothing, gains value through the passage of time? It’s easy to say “use linen for shoes,” but in reality, it isn’t simple. Shoes take far more stress than garments do, and they require conditions completely different from clothing-making—durability, shape retention, resistance to rain, and more.

From the very start, both sides shared the desire to use linen—one of the materials that symbolizes nest Robe / CONFECT. PATRICK had used linen in past models, but for ARTOIS, which became the base this time, it was our first attempt. Early on, we could already picture how it might work aesthetically. At the same time, because it was a new material for this model, we needed to confirm very carefully whether the meet the required standards. Still, the project itself was highly positive, so rather than focusing on concerns, we naturally spent more time thinking, “How can we make this work?”

Before debating whether linen could be used in shoes at all, we approached it from a different premise: “How can we make a shoe that truly works while bringing out what linen can do?” I think we were able to move forward that way because PATRICK is a brand that has refined shape and comfort over many years. In practice, we prepared a wide range of linen canvas fabrics, and PATRICK repeatedly tested them at the factory. We checked tear strength, flex tests, and even how creases would form after wear. We continued that verification process for about a month.

The linen canvas we ultimately chose—after repeated tests and discussions—was not a material that looks “finished” from day one. As you wear it, it gradually becomes more supple and soft; creases form; subtle variations in tone appear. It’s a process of change that feels very close to what happens with the clothing we make.

ARTOIS, which we chose as the base model, is one of the more understated, simple silhouettes within PATRICK’s archives. Originating from tennis and squash shoes of the 1970s and 80s, it strips away decoration as much as possible and has a form with a certain openness—an intentional sense of “space.” We felt that this sense of space becomes especially important when the shoes are placed alongside our clothing.

ARTOIS is one of PATRICK’s signature models, dating back to the era when production was still in France. Even now, with production in Japan, we have continued making it for many years while reproducing the original details as faithfully as possible. It’s a model we’re deeply attached to, so we were truly happy that it was chosen. By combining it with linen—something nest Robe / CONFECT excels at—we felt the characteristics of both brands overlapped naturally, without strain.

At first glance, many pieces from nest Robe / CONFECT appear quiet and understated. But the more closely you look—or the more you actually wear them—the more depth you begin to feel in the material, the construction, and the pattern. Rather than pushing strength through logos or conspicuous design, we’ve consistently chosen designs that reveal themselves over time. I believe ARTOIS is built on a similar sensibility. It doesn’t feel “complete” the moment you put it on; instead, it gradually gains presence as it absorbs the rhythm of your steps and your daily life. In that sense, it was an especially good match. “Not asserting” doesn’t mean removing elements—it means leaving only what has a reason to remain.

For this collaboration, we used cowhide for the side lines—one of ARTOIS’s defining details—and kept the stitching in a tone that blends with the linen canvas we selected. This wasn’t an added decoration to create a sense of “specialness.” It was a choice that remained as the natural, necessary form, after considering durability and structure as a shoe, as well as how it would sit alongside nest Robe / CONFECT’s clothing. We didn’t deliberately add anything. If the details that remain after careful decisions naturally read as “bespoke,” that’s enough. That’s how we see it.