Between The Lines 029 : Footworks
IMPROVE YOUR HEALTH WITH BETTER SHOES
On our recent trip to Tokyo we sat down with Takeshi Mori, founder of Footworks, whose disciplined philosophy defines the brand and its focus on fundamentals. What began as insoles shaped by medical necessity under his father’s guidance has evolved into a disciplined practice grounded in observation rather than aesthetics. For Mori, footwear functions as infrastructure. His designs begin beneath the visible layer. Before silhouette and material choice he asks a simple question, what does the body need in order to stand well and move without compensation?
The answer is foundation. Mori speaks about removing interference and editing a shoe until it stops competing with the body and starts supporting it. The forms are restrained and almost understated, because alignment comes first and expression follows.That philosophy carries through everything at Footworks. From custom orthotics developed through direct feedback and iteration to TYROL shoes built around a shared alignment principle, the work refines a system and stays with it. For Mori and Footworks, the evolution is deliberate and each adjustment builds on the last. Progress comes from understanding something more deeply over time and practice.
