Walk. Don't run.

It was almost 20 years ago, but I had a favorite pair of shoes. It was a series of shoes called "TWINS" that I found at CAMPER in Flags, a commercial facility in Shinjuku Station. They were characterized by their asymmetrical design, and the white flat shoes with a cat's face embroidered on the left foot and a dog's face on the right foot became my commute shoes, even though I should have been a perfectly good adult by then. They surprisingly blended in with office casual wear, and I didn't get tired even when standing on the train. And I loved their gentle cuteness.
In a company where things often don't go as planned, it's common to feel down or want to cry. But when I looked down at my feet, I saw the friendly faces of a cat and a dog side by side. I remember how much I was comforted by their funny expressions, which were more amusing than stylish.

CAMPER, the Spanish shoe brand that offered me such a significant comfort, celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2025. The book created to commemorate this occasion is not a catalog-like回顾 of history, but rather is overflowing with artistic appeal.

By juxtaposing shoes with photos of animals and landscapes, it allows us to imagine the origins of their unique designs, or even make free associations. The playful archive of a brand that has philosophized and proposed walking also has a "that's how they did it!" aspect, like a game of creative answers, making it enjoyable to turn the pages.

The red box-like design, which emphasizes the brand's message "WALK, DON'T RUN," was created by Irma Boom, a Dutch book designer hailed as the "Queen of Books." The passionately red book, even on its fore-edge, is small yet impactful, and attractive as a physical object. I wish I could create such designs too.

I don't have a driver's license, and I'm not good with bicycles, so my main mode of transportation is "walking." What's good about walking is that I can space out while walking without having to think about traffic rules (though I do try to be careful), and no one gets angry. If I find something interesting, I can stop or make a detour easily, and being able to move at my own pace wherever I want is the best! As long as I can walk, I want to walk as far as I can.

When I feel intimidated by a world that values speed above all else – "time-performance," "productivity," "efficiency" – and want to resist in my own way...
I want to walk, not run, and sometimes skip. I hope I can enjoy the scenery I see at a walking pace and the emotions that surface in my heart.

CAMPER 50 (1975-2025) WALK, DON'T RUN

Artwork:    Irma Boom
Format:   softcover, embossed
product no. :     9783753307893

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Text & Photo ／ Fumika Arasawa Designer Freelance ⇄ company employee, sometimes assisting friends. Moved to Matsumoto in 2024. Instagram: @fumika *Related products from rovakk musikk can be found here.

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