Soft slippers using Awa Ai Indigo Dyeing, made with expert sewing craftsmanship

A comfortable fit that is perfect for apartment buildings, since they don’t make a sound. Furthermore, the toe is slightly raised to prevent stumbles. The charm of Sato Kagaku’s indoor Ai Blue slippers is not just in the beauty of the the unique Tokushima indigo dyeing technique, it’s in the shape and material, which is designed for the wearer. “The popular soft slipper in this series was originally made for OEM. Then the product number was discarded, and – thinking it would be a shame to lose it entirely – we inherited the mold,” says third generation company head Dai Sato. Since being established in 1975, Sato Kagaku has been involved with OEM production, manufacturing, selling a number of indoor footwear products. Second generation Hiroaki Sato (now the chairman) fell in love with the slippers. “With lots of repeat customers, this slipper was truly loved, so I really wanted to continue using the mold.”

The slipper production process consists of cutting, sewing, sizing, adhering, and stitching the seams, and a trained eye and skill are needed throughout the entire process. Sewing the slipper is difficult work, requiring an extremely shallow margin of 2-4mm. A small mistake and the product is irreparable. “Since the material is cloth, lots of experience and skills are required to sew along the curve, barely distinguishable lines,” says Mihiko Sato, a 40-year veteran in the field, who has made well over 3,000 pairs during the peak season. “Domestic makers are decreasing with time, but with the high quality of Japanese manufacturing, repeat OEM orders are increasing. While we continue to maintain our technical skills, I want to work hard creating original items like Ai Blue,” says Dai. “Right now we are mainly working with Tokushima’s traditional craft Awa Ai, but it would be interesting to collaborate with other region’s fabrics moving forward.” Sato is hopeful for future expansion.