“The truth is, Tezuka is somebody that I would like to surpass someday. Always looking ahead of the current generation with a broad field of view, he continuously puts ideas into shape.

I’m still no match for him,” says DIONE’s Satoh. Precisely because I’ve seen him work from such a close standpoint, I’m able to express Tezuka this way, as one who pioneers generations with ideas not bound to preconceived ideas.

Satoh dove into the apparel industry after meeting with Tezuka 15 years ago. Entering the industry clueless, Satoh went on to establish the shoe manufacturing company DIONE after 5 years of experience working under Tezuka. A relationship of absolute trust, like that of old colleagues or comrade-in-arms, still exists between the two.

In 2014, their relationship took a new turn. With the start of the new brand that Tezuka had started, IISER LOEN, the two set on challenging a new expression that utilized both of their strengths, knitwear and shoes. DIONE would produce sneakers with the original knitting of IISER LOEN.

With the common understanding that “The finish is particularly important in making an original product domestically,” Satoh decided to entrust the processing to complete Tezuka’s image to SAAB (Hiratsuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture), a company he had close relations with from before.

Although SAAB is originally a denim dying and processing factory, in order to meet the requests of DIONE, it began the staining and ozone processing of shoe products. Tezuka’s image is relayed to Mineo, who works at SAAB, through Satoh.

Detailed instructions between the three parties do not exist, but rather the image is shared instead through dialogue. When these images matched, sneakers with an entirely new look were created. The baton with the image to be passed along by Satoh races between the office and factory today as well.