Daita Kimura, a Japanese designer and graduate of Cordwainers College in London, carries forward the avant-garde shoemaking legacy established by John Moore in the 1980s. After Moore’s passing in 1989, his assistant Ian Reid maintained the tradition, and in 1994 Kimura opened The Old Curiosity Shop in Holborn to preserve the original designs and rebellious spirit of the studio. Known for distinctive silhouettes such as the rounded “Hog Toe” shoe, his work blends classical craftsmanship, the raw edge of London’s punk culture, and a contemporary design sensibility, producing pieces that are both functional and deeply expressive.
Before establishing his own shop, Kimura spent five years apprenticing with a British shoemaker and later contributed designs to brands such as SWEAR Footwear. The Old Curiosity Shop serves as a spiritual successor to Moore’s House of Beauty and Culture, keeping alive not only the shoemaking techniques but also the ethos of innovation and subcultural influence that defined London’s late-20th-century design scene. While Kimura once handcrafted each pair himself in the shop’s basement workshop, in recent years he has relocated production to Japan, continuing to oversee design while working with skilled craftspeople to maintain the brand’s quality and character. The Holborn building at 13–14 Portsmouth Street remains an iconic part of the brand’s story—a historic structure dating back to the 16th century that has housed everything from a dairy to a bookshop—while the brand’s future continues to evolve between its British heritage and Japanese production.
We've collaborated to bring you the best of the best in footwear. As our first collaborative item, we've brought a pair of collapsible sandals to life. These sandals are crafted using Japanese horsehide, sterling silver, and a Vero Cuoio sole. Our two distinct voices in contemporary fashion come together to explore the intersection of heritage craftsmanship and modern expression. This collaboration represents a shared vision of quality, authenticity, and artistic integrity.
2D SANDALS
