Ryo Kashiwazaki

Given the seemingly endless stream of premium footwear releases that have hit shelves as of late, you may have forgotten that the quality of the drops of years past -- and retro silhouettes in particular -- left a lot to be desired from the major sportswear labels. Thus, enter Hender Scheme. First established by Ryo Kashiwazaki back in 2010, the Japanese imprint capitalized on the renewed lust for quality that came along with the rise of heritage wear and Americana around that same time frame -- groundwork that paved the way for Hender Scheme’s renowned “Hommage” collection. Featuring luxurious, handmade nods to classics from the likes of Nike, adidas, New Balance, and Vans, the range noticeably caught fire with Kashiwazaki’s coveted rendition of the Air Jordan 4 -- an execution that may even have influenced Jordan Brand to introduce its “Remastered” retros. That momentum propelled Hender Scheme into 2015 as it supplemented its collection with with a range of equally high-quality accessories before introducing Manual Industrial Products 12 -- its own leather take on the classic Air Presto. Kashiwazaki recently capped off the year by introducing his own aptly-named 2015 as a part of this season’s “Essence” drop. Thankfully, it looks like the brand will be progressing even further as it welcomes in the New Year: Hender Scheme’s Spring 2016 collection includes everything from high-fashion sandals and dress shoes to tiny wingtips for kids. But don’t worry, the “Hommage” range of Manual Industrial Products will return with takes on the Stan Smith, Cortez, Micro Pacer and more -- not to mention an all-black Air Jordan IV.