Dress Engineer

Motor was established in 2011 as a clothing and accessories division of the broader MOTO enterprise, which was founded by Hideo Motoike in 1971. The company produces its leather goods at a factory located along the Yumigahama coast in western Tottori Prefecture, where craftsmen apply hand-production methods to boots and other leather items.

The Dress Engineer boots reflect Motor's approach to combining traditional construction methods with contemporary design sensibilities. As with other Motor products, the boots are produced using hand-sewn techniques at the company's Tottori Prefecture workshop. The design draws on the heritage of engineer boots, which emerged as American workwear in the late 1930s and evolved into both functional work boots and style icons through the mid-20th century.

Engineer boots as a category were first introduced to market by Wesco and Chippewa between 1937 and 1939, with the 1940 Sears Roebuck catalog featuring engineer boots marketed for engineering work such as surveying. The style became associated with rebellion and counterculture in the 1950s through adoption by motorcyclists and popularization in film. Motor's interpretation of this historical design category applies the refined aesthetic approach that characterizes the brand's broader leather goods production.

Motor's parent company MOTO emphasizes the use of quality leather materials across its product lines, with many items featuring Japanese vegetable-tanned calfskin. The company's leather goods are produced by hand at the Yumigahama coast factory, where craftsmen apply traditional leather working techniques. While specific material specifications for the Dress Engineer model are limited in publicly available sources, the boots reflect Motor's general approach to leather selection and hand-production methods established through the parent company's decades of leather craft experience.

Motor recommends that customers visit their retail locations to try boots on in person, particularly noting that their cordovan boots tend to run larger than their other shoes and boots. The company acknowledges that Motor's shoes are not built on lasts designed for Western feet, which presents challenges for international distribution and emphasizes the importance of proper fitting for customers outside Japan.

The brand operates retail locations in Tokyo (Kita-Aoyama and Minami-Aoyama neighborhoods), Tottori (Yonago), and Okayama, where customers can receive sizing assistance. For international customers or those unable to visit a retail location, direct consultation with the company is recommended to ensure appropriate sizing.

The Dress Engineer boots are produced at Motor's factory along the Yumigahama coast, facing the Sea of Japan in the western part of Tottori Prefecture, near Daisen mountain. This facility serves as the production center for Motor's leather goods and footwear, where craftsmen apply hand-production techniques to boots and other items.

As a made-to-order product line with limited production capacity, availability of Motor boots reflects the brand's focus on the domestic Japanese market. The company maintains retail locations in Tokyo's Aoyama neighborhood, Tottori Prefecture, and Okayama, where customers can view products and receive sizing consultation. Motor's limited international presence and focus on hand-production methods result in constrained availability outside Japan.