Barefoot Shoes, Minimalist Running Shoes and Fashion

For years fashion has been about appearance over comfort. It’s been about appearance over utility… and appearance over healthiness. In fact, fashion is pretty much all about appearance. Squeezing into awkward shoes, tiny outfits and uncomfortable jewelry has all been the cost for looking good.

Recently however there’s been a change toward a healthier style of living and along with this trend many forms of new, eco-friendly and ergonomically friendly clothing has been produced. Many companies now pride themselves on their recycling practices and “green ability”.

One of the most interesting aspects of this change is the introduction of barefoot shoes. This innovative style of footwear came onto the market less than a decade ago and has exploded in popularity across the western world. Originally the shoes may have looked strange or bizarre, (even like gloves for your feet) but their positive health benefits have led many athletes and celebrities to take a growing interest in the barefoot movement.

Some of the celebrities spotted in minimalist shoes include Channing Tatum and Matthew McConaughey. Both these movie stars have been seen in public sporting the barefoot look. Google founder Sergey Brin was seen wearing barefoot shoes at a corporate press conference and the shoes have made appearances everywhere from talk shoes to the Emmy Awards.

The movement has become so popular that many of the major shoe producers like Merrel, Nike and New Balance have started to produce their own versions of minimalist running shoes. As people start to value their health, wearing ergonomically friendly footwear is becoming chic. There’s more of a desire to take care of one’s own wellbeing than to focus on what the newest type of shoe is.

That’s not to say that minimalist shoes aren’t exempt from the fashion rules. With so many competitors entering the market, people face many choices for the type of shoes to pick. Barefoot technology continues to grow better each year and companies are working hard to stay ahead of the curve and capture the largest share of the market.

One thing’s for sure and that’s that minimalist footwear is definitely a step in the right direction. The shoes are good for your feet, legs and back and help to mimic the way your ancestors moved. Instead of preventing the foot from feeling, barefoot shoes work to encourage the natural tactile awareness of the foot. There’s no guarantee that fashion will stay on this healthy streak, but at the moment, your feet should be pretty happy.