Tokio Kumagaï (1948–1987).
Kumagaï was born in Sendai, Japan. After high school he studied at the prestigious Bunka College of Fashion in Tokyo that delivered earlier talented designers like Kenzo and Issey Miyake. Shortly after his graduation he worked for Yves St. Laurent and Jean-Charles Castelbajac in Paris. In the studio of Castelbajac he also designs shoes for Pierre d’Alby which were noted by Elio Fiorucci. He invited Kumagaï to work for his fashion label Fiorucci founded in 1967 to come to work. While Tokio designed gold and silver sneakers for Fiorucci in Milan he also works for Issey Miyake in Paris. In 1981 opened his own boutique in Paris.
His footwear is distinguished by its decorative details despite its relatively simple underlying designs. He enjoyed working with specialized techniques such as painting, appliqué, patchwork, and braiding. His playful “fantasy shoes” featured whimsical designs that transformed footwear into objects such as cars, animals, and everyday accessories.
