Tokyo-based wholesaler Apple announces plans to introduce the historically significant German Army Trainer Original shoes to the Japanese market, marking an expansion in their wholesale distribution strategy.
Apple, a Tokyo-based shoe wholesaler, announced it is importing and selling the “German Army Trainer Original” shoes as part of its offerings for the fall/winter 2024 season. The company is gradually expanding its wholesale distribution by targeting individual stores, specialty shoe shops, major select shops, and prominent department stores.
The German Army Trainer, often referred to simply as the German Trainer, has been in service as an indoor training shoe for the German military since the 1980s. Although production temporarily halted in 1994, it was revived in 1999 under new management by the German military, and these shoes continue to be an officially supplied item. Buyers are particularly drawn to the brand’s historical significance and its authentic ties to military use. “Taking their time and working on it long-term” is a sentiment echoed by several men’s store owners who are eager to incorporate these shoes into their inventory, as reported by Fashionsnap.
Manufactured in a factory in Serbia, the German Trainers are crafted from cow leather for the upper portion and split suede for the toe area. The shoes are designed to develop personal character with wear, an attribute that appeals to consumers seeking individuality. Each pair features an embossed tongue that displays the manufacturing date and the manufacturer’s certification number, solidifying its authenticity as a military-issued product. The rubber sole is engineered for cushioning, durability, and grip, influenced by over 40 years of ergonomic design and structural mechanics.
The trainers come in various styles, including a classic white upper with a honey sole priced at 26,000 yen (excluding tax), as well as versions with dark honey soles that hark back to the vintage designs of the 1980s and 1990s. Additionally, options are available in all-white and all-black configurations. The company has also introduced a limited edition model for the 2025 fall/winter collection, inspired by the bicolor trend of early ’60s to ’70s styles, selling at 27,000 yen.
In tandem with the launch of the German Army Trainer Original, Apple is exploring wholesale distribution for another brand called “Altum,” which debuted in the fall/winter of 2023. The Altum series showcases vintage models with military origins, redesigned to appeal to contemporary consumers. The first release updates the classic German Trainer specifically for the Japanese market, and future iterations are expected to include new colors and materials to attract a wider female audience.
The Altum collection features standard models priced at 23,000 yen and an exclusive line priced at 27,000 yen. The exclusive models are reinterpreted versions based on the German military’s trail shoes, utilizing premium domestic oil leather and soft nubuck leather for the upper, paired with a dual-layer EVA midsole and a retro-pattern Vibram sole.
Source: Noah Wire Services
