Tanuki 2 – Japanese Inspired Washi Paper Shoe by Wildling, designed by Anna Yona, Ran Yona and Markus Kittner

Tanuki 2 is a manifesto. It creates elegance through subtraction and innovation through respect for tradition – a shoe that surprises and, at the same time, returns to what is essential.

Our Tanuki 2 was conceived around one guiding question: How can we create a shoe using only the barest minimum of materials while meeting every expectation people have of footwear? Thus, the question of “Too much? What is just enough?” deeply resonates with us. Tanuki’s upper and lining are woven from 75% Washi paper – a collaboration with master Japanese material designers who tear, twist, and weave thin paper strips into a resilient, airy textile.

Paper sounds unlikely for footwear, yet washi is light, temperature‑regulating, highly breathable, and remarkably durable when engineered correctly. The production partnership blends centuries‑old craft with contemporary performance needs, transforming an ancient human companion into a modern, living fabric. At the same time, we have removed everything that isn’t absolutely necessary – no excess padding, no stabilizers, no glue-laden layers. Even the outsole is reduced to its core function: inspired by traditional Tabi, it only covers the foot where required, leaving a deliberate open gap under the forefoot. This gap sole delivers Wildling’s signature groundfeel and flexibility, while minimizing material use.