A Look at Distinctive Japanese Brand Rolling Dub Trio—and a Wide Range of Standard & Strange Pre-Orders

Earlier this year at Standard & Strange, the Oakland/Santa Fe/NYC-based merchant of many fine clothes (and esteemed Patina Thunderdome sponsor) added Japanese shoe brand Rolling Dub Trio to their catalog. Originally they kicked things off with just four models, but they’re planning to add a whooole bunch more to the mix.

Founded in 2007 by Katsuya Tokunaga, RDT crafts shoes and boots that seem hellbent on being unique in a crowded field at The Boots Factory workshop (RDT’s production wing), based in the Tokyo ward of Taito, a locale known for being a center of leatherworking and shoemaking craftspeople. At The Boots Factory, Tokunaga and a group of artisans assemble RDT products in small batches.

With patterns that touch upon many vintage Americana styles with a bit of added avant-garde flair—in tandem with high-quality leathers like classic Horween Chromexcel or sturdy Italian horsehide—RDT’s pairs are not to be missed; unfortunately, they can also be tough to find Stateside, especially with our new normal of long lead times brought on by issues like supply chain disruptions.

With that in mind, S&S has just opened the books for RDT pre-orders, with many new models available. Some caveats here: the wait for these pairs, admittedly, will not be short. S&S is currently projecting them to ship in about a year or so. Plus, you only have until Friday 11/11 at midnight Pacific time to get your order in, so the clock is ticking here.

But, hey…if you’ve been curious about the brand or have been itching to get another pair of RDTs, this might be your best bet to guarantee yourself some of their shoes while things are still touch-and-go with footwear inventories everywhere in 2022.

Let’s take a gander at what’s available for pre-order:

Rolling Dub Trio Gleaners Sidezip in Black Japanese Box Calf: $775 (Pre-Order)

Constructed on the LC-01 last, these Western-esque sidezips have a 270 flat welt and a winning combination of Vibram 269 composite sole with repro Cat’s Paw heels. Love the woodsman heel as well. Really slick boot here.

Rolling Dub Trio Casper Sidezip in Burgundy Chromexcel: $750 (Pre-Order)

S&S goes back to the Casper, this time in Burgundy CXL. Crafted on the CBT02 last, this wholecut sidezip has a 360 flat welt with a cork sole (plus inset leather toes and metal toe taps) as well as a Boots Factory-branded heel.

Rolling Dub Trio Masterpiece Derby Shoes in Black Japanese Box Calf: $520 (Pre-Order)

Made on a classic Navy last that cuts against the deliciously chonky worldview RDT tends to operate in, these versatile derbies can be polished up to a shine, or left to patina and let the teacore burst through. Made with a 270 flat welt, plus leather soles and a repro Biltrite nylon heel.

Rolling Dub Trio Coupen in Black Horsehide: $575 (Pre-Order)

Quite possibly RDT’s most iconic style, the five-inch-tall not-quite-a-shoe-or-boot Coupen is making its return to S&S in a cornucopia of leather selections. Each pair is crafted on the CBT02 last with a 360 flat welt, RDT’s cork/leather hybrid sole with iron toe taps, and Boots Factory-branded heels. You can choose from Italian teacore horsehide, both in black…

Rolling Dub Trio Coupen in Brown Horsehide: $575 (Pre-Order)

…as well as brown…

Rolling Dub Trio Coupen in Black Chromexcel: $575 (Pre-Order)

…plus some CXL colors as well, including black…

Rolling Dub Trio Coupen in Burgundy Chromexcel: $575 (Pre-Order)

…and burgundy.

Rolling Dub Trio Swan Slip On in Black Deerskin: $400 (Pre-Order)

Also made on RDT’s Navy last in a supple deerskin, the Swan’s almost-wholecut upper should conform quite comfortably to the foot. It’s built with a Blake/rapid construction with RDT’s cork/leather hybrid soles and iron toe taps, plus Continental rubber heels.

Rolling Dub Trio Roots Low in Black Horsebutt: $800 (Pre-Order)

BACK TO THE CHONK. Reminiscent of vintage “work oxfords,” the brogue-cap-toed Roots Low is Munson-lasted, made with a double-row stitchdown construction, and features a Boots Factory rubber sole and Quabaug heels. You have your choice of Italian black horsebutt…