Fashion trend sees demand for ugly and split-toe shoes rise sharply
Reports from fashion outlets describe a growing trend where commuters are increasingly choosing deliberately strange footwear designs over traditional shoes.
Shift away from standard footwear
Commuter trains that once held passengers in low-key pumps and trainers now feature polarising designs. These new styles often appear flat, orthopaedic, and described as ugly by internet observers. Deliberately strange designs are reaching new heights of desirability among the public.
Specific style demand increases
Demand for Tabi styles that split the big toe from other toes has quadrupled since 2022 according to Lyst. Sales of FiveFingers shoes have also risen by 57 percent in the same period. Designs once reserved for domestic chores are now common on city streets.
Industry reaction to the change
A writer at Central Saint Martins fashion school calls this shift a liberating place for consumers. He notes that the trend forces people to embrace something that feels absurd. Previously confined to catwalks, these items are becoming more common in daily wear.
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