Freedom from being trussed up in moulded frames, lockdown has meant liberation for toes
Uptick in demand indicates demand for 'joota azaadi'.
By ET Bureau |
iStock
We are urged to stay on our toes, we are afraid to tread on people’s toes, we dip our toes to test the waters and we gauge someone from top to toe, but these sensitive extremities rarely figure in our consciousness as independent anatomical entities.
For at least 8,000 years we have allowed them hardly any wriggle room, and considerable human ingenuity has been expended on ensconcing them in successive harnesses of leather, cloth, and lately, PVC, that we call shoes.
And in the process scant attention has been given to the plight of the 10 toes that are condemned thus to long periods of constrictive incarceration.
It is fitting therefore that at a time when the Covid-19 pandemic has led to the entire human body being restricted from moving about freely, toes are enjoying a period of liberation. For months now, they are no longer required to be trussed up and taken on long commutes, perspiring in stitched or moulded frames.
A definite rise in sales of all manner of open-toed-free-toed footwear in India and abroad corroborate this emancipation. It has been reported this month that online searches for such footwear have increased 53% since June with demand for flipflops up 89% month-on-month abroad.
In India, too, sales of flip flops, sandals and slides have touched 80% of pre-Covid levels. Toes are clearly having their moment in the sun.
It's time to update your shoe cabinet.
Men are usually less experimental in styling and often tend to overlook the choice of shoes. As synthetic/vegan shoes gain popularity, many will be switching to the lower priced and light weight faux leather options. The faux leather are light and easy for the summer heat, and help the feet breathe.
Here's a trend update from Ayush Diwan Khurana, founder and designer of Modello Domani.
For at least 8,000 years we have allowed them hardly any wriggle room, and considerable human ingenuity has been expended on ensconcing them in successive harnesses of leather, cloth, and lately, PVC, that we call shoes.
And in the process scant attention has been given to the plight of the 10 toes that are condemned thus to long periods of constrictive incarceration.
It is fitting therefore that at a time when the Covid-19 pandemic has led to the entire human body being restricted from moving about freely, toes are enjoying a period of liberation. For months now, they are no longer required to be trussed up and taken on long commutes, perspiring in stitched or moulded frames.
A definite rise in sales of all manner of open-toed-free-toed footwear in India and abroad corroborate this emancipation. It has been reported this month that online searches for such footwear have increased 53% since June with demand for flipflops up 89% month-on-month abroad.
In India, too, sales of flip flops, sandals and slides have touched 80% of pre-Covid levels. Toes are clearly having their moment in the sun.
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Men are usually less experimental in styling and often tend to overlook the choice of shoes. As synthetic/vegan shoes gain popularity, many will be switching to the lower priced and light weight faux leather options. The faux leather are light and easy for the summer heat, and help the feet breathe.
Here's a trend update from Ayush Diwan Khurana, founder and designer of Modello Domani.
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