Are sneakerheads prepared for barefoot sneakers?

Lately, the class of “trendy footwear” has grown reasonably…expansive. We've seen all the pieces from ugly-chic runners to slinky sock-sneakers to cartoonish water sneakers get deemed en vogue. (Additionally, the mule! And Crocs!) Nonetheless, one particuar fashion has remained a trend outsider: the barefoot shoe, and specifically Vibram's FiveFingers shoe, the haunting biomorphic silhouette positive to rattle your mind.

Now, enter two extraordinarily cool Japanese labels: designer Takahiro Miyashita and forward-thinking footwear model Suicoke. The duo has simply launched their tackle the FiveFingers – however will that co-sign be sufficient to raise the freaky shoe into the leagues of cool-dude sneakers?

First, some backstory on the perplexing footwear design itself. Within the mid-2000s, the Italian footwear firm Vibram launched the FiveFingers shoe, aspiring to solely enchantment to boaters, kayakers, and different nautical varieties. The "five-fingered" sole was meant to offer an improved grip on slippery surfaces whereas nonetheless giving the feeling of being semi-barefoot. Considerably surprisingly, although, the barely-there sneakers caught on with runners and health lovers, as "barefoot operating" began to develop in reputation. Most of the people was repulsed primarily by the wild design – and to be honest, loads of runners nonetheless wouldn't contact them with a 10-foot pole. As we speak, the FiveFingers shoe is worn by these excessive outdoorsy varieties, those who most likely personal a number of hydration packs and a kaleidoscope of carabiners – not exactly the style diehard.

This specific FiveFingers collaboration isn't a complete outlier – it's not less than the third time {that a} trend label has tried to co-sign the weird design inside a 12 months. Final fall, Balenciaga launched the "Toe" shoe, an almost $1,300 riff on the fashion. Then Vibram itself gave the shoe a ninja-goth neoprene makeover within the "V-NEOP" design. And this previous spring, Suicoke teamed up with Japanese label Midorikawa for a creepy and terrifying model, full with painted nails, that seemed extra like a personality from Aaahh!!! Actual Monsters than fascinating footwear. Nonetheless, this iteration from The Soloist and Suicoke is maybe essentially the most palatable design so far. It's acquired a monochromatic mix of blacks with a silhouette that has been tweaked – and given the addition of laces – to look barely extra like an precise sneaker than the unique's excessive toe-hugging form.

The world of males's sneakers is undoubtedly as wild because it has ever been, however even by these requirements, the Vibram FiveFingers remains to be fairly rattling absurd. But, if trend has taught us one factor, it’s that nothing is off-limits. In 2010, The New York Instances Journal questioned if the design "may fairly probably be the brand new Crocs." Nicely, 11 years later, and Crocs are certifiably cool, co-signed by too many streetwear designers and well-known musicians to listing right here. Even Vibram's signature soles have managed to develop into an immovable a part of red-hot sneaker design. As for the FiveFingers…solely time will inform. On the subject of this period of footwear, we've learnt to count on the surprising. One can solely think about that Vibram is holding its fingers – or, higher but, its toes – crossed that the FiveFingers will lastly get its second within the sneaker solar.

This piece was initially printed in GQ US

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