This Singaporean shoemaker moved to Kyoto to make barefoot shoes by hand
Singaporean craftsperson Chin Shiying has relocated to Kyoto to launch Yanmaei, a label specializing in handmade leather barefoot shoes. The brand focuses on ergonomic footwear designed to allow natural foot movement and toe spread.
Why it matters
The article highlights a growing consumer interest in ergonomic and minimalist footwear as an alternative to conventional, restrictive shoe designs.
Singaporean craftsperson Chin Shiying went to Japan to master traditional shoemaking – only to realise she didn’t want to wear the shoes she made. That discovery eventually led her to barefoot footwear and a new life in Kyoto.
Singaporean craftsperson Chin Shiying, 37, moved to Kyoto in 2024 to launch Yanmaei, an artisanal label specialising in handmade leather barefoot shoes. (Photos: Yanmaei; Art: CNA/Chern Ling)
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