20th Anniversary Privilege
With heartfelt thanks — 10% off for 3 days only
To everyone who always loves and supports our creations.
There are only a few days left in this year. 2025 marks the 20th anniversary of il micio's establishment of its atelier in Italy. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who has walked with us through these years.
For three days, November 28th (Friday), 29th (Saturday), and 30th (Sunday), we will be holding the "20th Anniversary Privilege" on our online store. During this period, we will be offering a 10% discount to all customers. We would like to offer these three special days as a token of our appreciation.
1998 – When I decided to dedicate my life to craftsmanship
In 1998, barely able to speak a word of Italian, I crossed the ocean with the sole desire to make handmade shoes.
With the shoes he'd painstakingly completed and a note in clumsy words saying, "I'd like to train you," in hand, he traveled around visiting shoe workshops one by one, relying on the phone book. After being turned down after 31 times, the master in Siena finally opened his door.
The joy and tension of finally standing at the starting line. Handmade thread, the ancient technique of using boar hair as needles. The traditional shoes made together with the master for the Palio, a festival that has continued since the Middle Ages. Those days of honing skills late into the night in a workshop filled with the aroma of leather.
The passion and trial and error I felt back then, when my mind and heart were filled with shoemaking, is still the starting point of my craftsmanship today.
2005 – The first night the lights came on in the studio
I still vividly remember the night in 2005 when I became the first Japanese person to open an atelier overseas.
It took years of patience to get a work permit. Even after finally getting my visa, I couldn't find a bank that would lend to a foreigner, and I struggled to find a property. But through all that, many people reached out to me and supported me, even though they were practically strangers.
And then the night of the reception party arrived. Under the warm light, beyond the sound of glasses clinking, we could sense a faint sense of anxiety, the excitement of having a dream come true, and hope for an expanding future.
2015 – 10th Anniversary and Beyond
In 2015, we held an Art Shoes Exhibition at the Marino Marini Museum to commemorate our 10th anniversary.
Making shoes every day was fun and I wanted to continue doing it forever, but at the same time, a feeling began to grow deep inside me that "that alone is not enough." When I came across my father's collection of driftwood, I wanted to express shoes not just as "things to wear," but as works of art that house ideas and stories -- this desire began to take shape clearly.
"If I were to have a solo exhibition, it would have to be at the Marino Marini Museum." Although I thought it was a bold request, I decided to confide it to the director, whom I saw every day at the bar, and he accepted my request with surprising gusto.
It was a moment when I once again realized the deep appreciation that Italians have for beautiful things.
That day, my work was quietly placed next to a sculpture by Marino Marini, one of the most representative artists of the 20th century.
As I gazed upon my work in the high-ceilinged exhibition space of a converted church, I was reminded of my deep and firm resolve to "continue to challenge myself with creation."
<2016 – A new chapter of Boho creativity>
In 2016, a new breath of life was breathed into our craftsmanship, with the birth of the "Boho Series," which has now become a symbol of the brand.
Without the use of glue or sewing machines, each small piece of leather is hand-woven together, creating a unique and original approach that seems like a return to basics. Starting from the free spirit of 1970s hippie culture, the brand has combined the structural beauty of Japanese architecture, the spirituality of Japanese culture, and traditional Italian craftsmanship to create a unique world.
The pieces, which have an infinity motif, embodied "infinite creativity," as their name suggests. They can be rewoven, repaired, and even disassembled to be reborn as entirely new pieces. Cherishing finite materials and creating items that will be loved for a long time—this was a clear response to our philosophy.
The Boho series that was born in this way has eventually become il micio's signature work, loved by many customers for 10 years.
〈And now, 20 years later. What has continued to support my journey?〉
There were happy days, days when we felt stuck, and nights when we were lost. But we have been able to keep going thanks to all of you who have always loved and supported il micio.
For the past 20 years, and for the future that lies ahead, we offer our deepest gratitude from the bottom of our hearts. We hope you enjoy these special three days.
Hidetaka Fukaya's micio
Hidetaka Fukaya
You can get 10% off your purchase.
