The Shoes Like Pottery High Top Sneakers are as understated as they are beautiful. Their beauty lies not in flashy colors or trendy materials, but in the handmade construction of every pair. The canvas upper is sewn together then glued to the outsole with a tape made of natural rubber in a process that can't be done by machine. It must be done by hand. Once the upper is cemented to the outsole, the whole shoe is fired in a kiln for 70 minutes in a process known as ka-ryu. This process causes the sulfur in the outsole to react, returning the natural rubber to its original state and creating an outsole that is soft, flexible and durable. This process is very similar to how Japanese pottery is made and the result is a simple, timeless sneaker that will last for years.