In Taiwan, due to the climate and prevailing fashion culture, the demand for traditional leather dress shoes is generally lower than in Japan. Instead, sneakers and sandals enjoy far greater popularity. That said, Taiwan’s fashion scene has been evolving rapidly in recent years. Influential shops such as oak room have begun to lead the way in suit styling and men’s dress shoes, and as a result, stores specializing in men’s shoes—including dedicated dress shoe boutiques—have been steadily increasing.
Not too long ago, the idea of a Paraboots specialty store opening in Taiwan would have seemed almost unthinkable. However, fashion trends continue to shift, even in a hot and humid climate like Taiwan’s. Realistically, many people still prefer to walk around the city in sneakers rather than classic leather shoes. But they don’t want just any sneakers—they want well-made leather sneakers that look refined and elevate their overall style.
To meet this growing demand, we explored and discovered a shop that not only offers men’s dress shoes but also excels in high-quality leather sneakers, perfectly balancing comfort, durability, and sophisticated design for Taiwan’s modern lifestyle.
The Location of THOUZANDS
There is a store called THOUZANDS located inside Shin Kong Mitsukoshi in Taipei. The owner of this brand spent many years designing for well-known European and American brands before recently returning to Taiwan to launch THOUZANDS.
Drawing inspiration from Italian shoemaking, the brand is built around a design philosophy that balances comfort and contemporary fashion. THOUZANDS offers a diverse lineup that includes men’s, women’s, and kids’ shoes, making it a versatile choice for modern lifestyles.
At present, this is the brand’s only physical store, giving it a sense of exclusivity and making it a must-visit destination for those interested in high-quality, design-driven footwear in Taipei.
Product Selection
The lineup also extends to baby and kids’ shoes, offering impressive coverage across all age groups. It’s rare—even in Japan—to find a single standalone store with such a broad and well-balanced product range.
Another category that truly deserves attention is the men’s sneaker collection.
Some pieces may raise questions about the leather quality at first glance, but overall, the brand gives a strong impression of using high-quality leather across its lineup. Prices for the sneakers are around 10,000 TWD, which puts them in roughly the same range as mid-tier British sneaker brands.
To be honest, some people might think, “At that price, wouldn’t it be better to just buy sneakers from BERWICK?” That’s a fair comparison. However, these sneakers—infused with a distinct Italian-inspired aesthetic—offer a sleeker, more refined, and stylish silhouette, setting them apart from more traditional options.
As a Taiwanese brand gaining increasing attention, THOUZANDS feels like a worthy addition to any footwear portfolio, especially for those looking to explore emerging labels beyond the usual European names.
The brand also appears to offer MTO (Made-to-Order) services for leather dress shoes. With the overall quality of Taiwanese leather shoes improving year by year—and prices steadily rising—now may be the right time to invest before they climb even higher.
