KIZENT — meaning "resolute" — is Moda Pelle's original brand, projecting a world of its own.
Moda Pelle makes women's shoes on an OEM basis and develops its own brand alongside that work. The brand — KIZENT, the Japanese word for "resolute" — embodies the meaning of its name in its very form, expressing the strong design and rich comfort earned over years of women's shoemaking. Read the brand concept and you find an outlook that resonates deeply in an era that values individuality.
A premium in-house brand, developed in its own time.
Yamazaki Shoten, founded in Asakusa in 1953, ran its own brand from the start. In 2003 the company took its current name, Moda Pelle, but the focus has never changed: it has always made women's shoes. Its craftsmanship has earned the deep trust of its clients, and it continues to handle OEM work for high-end brands in Japan and abroad.
Drawing on the knowledge and craft Moda Pelle has built up over the years, the company launched a new in-house brand in 2020. Named 〈KIZENT〉 — from the Japanese word for "resolute" — it is shaped by one wish: to be worn by women who are not swept along by passing fashions. Designs that are universal yet quietly contemporary bring a touch of elegance to the wearer's feet, from everyday wear to formal occasions.
Today, three lasts shape the line-up: the round-toe "Rin", the square-toe "Miyabi", and the pointed-toe "Sou". Each heel — in both shape and height — is engineered for easy walking, so the shoes slip naturally into whatever setting or lifestyle the wearer brings to them. The collection ranges from versatile, all-purpose designs to pairs that act as the accent of an outfit; carefully chosen materials such as calfskin and sheep silky leather give every pair a refined, high-quality presence.
Pursuing comfort through veteran craft and the latest technology
Kizento's appeal lies not only in its elegant design but, just as surely, in how comfortable it feels to wear. The last is thicker on the big-toe side than a standard last, so the foot's centre of gravity doesn't drift outward — meaning the foot sits straight in the shoe and the heel rests squarely on the middle of the heel block, where it stays stable. Thanks to that design even the 8 cm-heeled "Rin" earns praise for being comfortable and unfatiguing to wear all day. It sounds obvious, but in practice it is hard to achieve and demands real expertise — exactly the kind of expertise Moda Pelle, with its long history of making women's shoes, can bring to bear.
Alongside time-tested craft, the latest technologies are also at work. When static electricity builds up in the body it can affect wellbeing, and the only place where the body can routinely discharge that static is the soles of the feet. Most women's shoes, however, are sole-glued with adhesives that are electrical insulators, trapping static in the body. To solve that, the patented "Nonsta" wellness-assist feature is now built into every Kizento shoe: static is released from the sole into the ground, and wearers report feeling better and less tired. With that level of function layered onto refined design, Kizento's fan base keeps growing.
Building out the line-up for a wider range of offerings.
Kizento is still in its early days, having launched only in 2020. The plan is to keep building its elegant character while widening the range of designs, variations and product categories. Awareness will be built up at home in Japan first, with overseas expansion sketched in for a later chapter of the brand's story.
Casual sneakers are undeniably easy to wear — but if pumps that flatter the leg can also feel comfortable, they deserve a place in the rotation, all the more so when health-minded technology is built in. Slipping on a pair of Kizento, with their balance of style and comfort, is a reminder of how much fun getting dressed can be. As the brand's concept puts it — "Trust yourself, love your own world, and walk firmly on your own two feet — resolutely" — Kizento promises to be a special pair for anyone who values being themselves.
