Articles

Real Leather Yet Rain-Resistant! The "High-Performance Dress Shoes" of Texcy Luxe Equipped with GORE-TEX Material

2025.05.08

Leather shoes are notoriously susceptible to water, which is why they are commonly seen as inconvenient for commuting on rainy days. The long rainy season is about to begin, and with summer comes the possibility of sudden downpours.

This is where the "texcy luxe" "GORE-TEX Series" shines.

On rainy days, the GORE-TEX material keeps water out while preventing the inside of the shoe from getting stuffy. Despite the stylish look of dress shoes, they offer comfort as light and supple as sneakers.

How did these shoes, which have gained the support of many Japanese businessmen, come into being? We asked Toru Suzuki from ASICS Trading Co., Ltd.

PROFILE

Toru Suzuki

ASICS Trading Co., Ltd. Business Strategy Headquarters Brand Strategy Department Brand Strategy Team

Joined in 2009. Since 2020, has been in charge of strategy for Texcy Luxe, handling everything from product planning to marketing strategies.

Unique Manufacturing Leveraging the Characteristics of Shoe Material Manufacturers

First, can you tell us about the brand Texcy Luxe?

This shoe brand started in Japan in 2009. Our mission is to support businessmen's footwear needs, and to encourage their work and private challenges, by making business shoes as soft, light, and flexible as sneakers, using genuine leather.

The brand name stems from combining "Texcy," ASICS Trading's house brand, with "Luxe," meaning luxury.

I've heard that "Texcy" originates from the Japanese onomatopoeia for walking briskly, "teku-teku."

Is there any connection to ASICS?

ASICS Trading is a group company of ASICS. Founded in 1955, it started as a company providing materials to shoe manufacturers.

Currently, it handles the planning, manufacturing, and sales of shoes for domestic and international markets, as well as material sales.

How did you manage to combine the comfort of sneakers with the design of dress shoes?

The ability to independently design original lasts and soles, along with the selection and design methods cultivated in walking shoe development, played a helpful role.

I think the quality standards of the ASICS Group also build trust.

The uppers are made of genuine leather, aren't they?

Although synthetic leather is often used in business shoes to pursue comfort and functionality, Texcy Luxe insists on genuine leather.

There are numerous advantages to real leather, such as its quality texture, durability, patina due to aging, and affection developed through care. Our independent research also indicates a strong demand for genuine leather in business shoes.

In 2020, a Series Catering to Japan's Hot & Humid Climate Launched

Can you tell us about the "GORE-TEX Series"?

The launch was in May 2020, just when guerrilla rainstorms were becoming a hot topic. Additionally, Japan experiences the rainy season.

We developed this series because we realized that "water resistance" is indispensable for fully supporting the feet of Japanese businessmen, regardless of the weather.

Why did you decide to use GORE-TEX material?

To keep the inside of the shoes comfortable in rainy conditions, breathability to prevent stuffiness is essential. This becomes surprisingly common not just in summer, but also in winter, in heated indoor environments.

Thus, we decided to adopt GORE-TEX fabrics, which have the highest performance among waterproof/breathable materials.

Were there any hurdles in using GORE-TEX material?

To commercialize shoes, production in certified factories and passing numerous product tests are necessary. We overcame these tests one by one, paving the way for commercialization.

Example: What functionalities are added by equipping it?

GORE-TEX fabrics incorporate a membrane known as the GORE-TEX membrane, which contains countless micro-pores within it.

Each pore is significantly smaller than water droplets, preventing water from passing through.

On the other hand, they are large enough to allow water vapor to pass through, preventing water from infiltrating, such as rain, while letting sweat escape, thereby exhibiting waterproof and breathable performance.

By using GORE-TEX fabrics for the lining of shoes, it prevents water from entering the interior of the shoe while keeping the feet dry.

However, it is not exclusively for rainy days and can be comfortably worn as regular business shoes on sunny days too.

Fusion of Functionality & Design: The Essence of Texcy Luxe

Example: There's a straight tip too, right?

Released in the fall of 2023, "TU-8014" is a shoe that boasts popularity. By applying water-repellent processing to the leather upper and utilizing GORE-TEX fabrics throughout the lining, it enhances waterproof and breathability performance.

Due to its classic straight tip design, in black, it can be used not only in business settings but also for formal occasions like weddings and funerals.

This model also has a sleek look unexpected of waterproof material shoes.

The shoe's form, designed in-house, embodies the brand's commitment. It's crafted with moderate room in the width to accommodate the shape of Japanese feet while incorporating design nuances throughout to provide an overall sleek appearance.

"TU-8014" features a moderately long nose and a modern silhouette with a slightly rounded toe.

It is recommended for pairing not only with suits but also with a light jacket and pants style or set-ups.

Can you tell us about the soles?

The sole employs E.V.A. injection, a lightweight foam sponge material. It is also used in sports and walking shoes, bending according to foot movements during walking and cushioning the impact when landing.

Additionally, the outer sole's forepart uses soft rubber to enhance ease of force application when stepping and flexibility.

The outer sole surface has fine grooves to provide grip even on wet surfaces.

The inner sole can be removed like a sneaker?

The inner sole is highly resistant to wear and offers excellent cushioning. Its surface's three-dimensional shape minimizes gaps with the foot sole, distributing the load during walking and reducing the stress on the foot.

Incidentally, deodorizing fiber MOFF is used on the underside of the toe area.

Sponge pads are used on the tongue and collar to soften the feel against the foot, enhancing the sneaker-like wearing comfort.

How has the response been, now that it's been about 5 years since release?

The GORE-TEX series, representing the brand's functionality, received accolades for its design as well, and coverage in fashion magazines has increased the brand's younger customer base.

Sales have been on a rising trend year by year, and it has grown to one of the brand's leading popular series.

What are the future goals?

We are revisiting the brand's concepts of Soft, Light, and Flexible to further enhance functionality.

Texcy Luxe has surpassed a cumulative shipment volume of 8 million pairs (as of February 2025) and is frequently seen at stations and airports.

While there are no directly managed stores yet, they are sold in around 1,500 stores nationwide, including shoe specialty stores and department stores.

We aim to further increase the brand awareness so that eventually every businessman owns at least one pair.

Rain resistance, comfort, design. The Texcy Luxe GORE-TEX series has overturned the norms of leather shoes.

Text by Ryota Osujo