Lace Up Boots

Motor's lace-up boots emphasize traditional handcraftsmanship combined with premium materials sourced from Italian and Japanese tanneries. The collection reflects the brand's heritage dating to 1971, when Hideo Motoike, a sculptor and leather artist, established Leather Arts & Crafts MOTO in Tokyo. His sons Daisuke and Sakuto later expanded the family business, with the Motor brand representing the contemporary evolution of multi-generational leather expertise.

Leather Arts & Crafts MOTO was established in 1971 by Hideo Motoike, a sculptor who founded an order-made leather products brand. The enterprise grew into an umbrella organization comprising three affiliated leather and silverworks retailers in the Aoyama neighborhood of Tokyo: Leather Arts Hideo Motoike, Leather & Silver MOTO, and Motor. In 1996, Sakuto Motoike launched Leather & Silver MOTO to expand the product lineup, while the Motor brand debuted in 2011 with its working man's garage theme.

The Motoike family name, not motorcycles, inspired the MOTO and Motor brand names. Hideo Motoike received significant recognition for his leather craft artistry, becoming the first person in Japan certified as a prefectural intangible cultural property holder in leather craft in 2016. He received the Minister of Education Award for his contribution to local culture as a leather craft artist, and in 2021, the family opened the world's first leather art museum.

The company's factory sits along the Yumigahama coast facing the Sea of Japan in western Tottori Prefecture. The workshop produces original items made by craftsmen's hands, with production remaining entirely in Japan. Motor sells well within Japan and has not pursued international expansion. In 2013, the "MOTORATORY" project began as a space for new challenges and experimental endeavors combining tradition and innovation.

Motor's lace-up boots feature several distinct leather options and construction approaches. Service boot models utilize vegetable-tanned horsehide uppers with darker, burnished toes and heels. The brand emphasizes vegetable-tanned cowhide leather with hand dyeing applied on top, alongside Japanese vegetable-tanned calfskin for many products. Some pieces incorporate hand-painted leather techniques developed through the Motoike family's artistic background.

The Italian Horsebutt Service Boots use Italian horsebutt leather specifically sourced for the Motor New Vintage collection. This material provides durability and develops character through wear. Cap Toe Lace-Up Boots feature structured toe caps, while hand-dyed cow leather lace-up boots require two weeks to ship after order due to the hand-dyeing process applied to each pair.

The brand's approach combines Hideo Motoike's sculptural sensibilities with the technical skills in metal engraving and academic knowledge of sculpture possessed by sons Daisuke and Sakuto. This fusion of artistic and technical expertise influences the construction methods and finishing techniques applied to the lace-up boot collection.

Motor offers several lace-up boot styles within the Motor New Vintage collection. The #1020 Italian Horsebutt Service Boots are available in black and brown, priced at ¥99,000 (tax included), with sizes ranging from seven to 11 (25-29 cm). The #1030 Italian Horsebutt Service Shoes, also using Italian horsebutt leather, are priced at ¥94,600 (tax included) and available in black and dark brown in sizes seven to 10 (25-28 cm).

The collection includes Cordovan Lace-Up Boots, Cap Toe Lace-Up Boots in black, and Long Desert Boots. Hand-dyed cow leather lace-up boots are offered in brown with the extended production timeline for custom hand-dyeing. As of late 2024, products were sold out on the official online store.

Beyond lace-up boots, the broader Motor and MOTO product categories include the #1060 Italian Bullhide Dress Engineer Boots at ¥132,000 and #1050 Horsebutt Sidegore Boots at ¥99,000. The company has become well-recognized among Japanese leather connoisseurs over the past 15 years as a top maker of leather goods including men's and women's shoes, wallets, bags, and belts, with maintenance services and repairs offered for long-term ownership.