Casual Flex All Day
Yes. We are aware we’re a portal that covers shoes, shoes, and more shoes, but we, as a collective nation, did not grow up wearing toddler sized Mars Yards, or Grade School Yeezys to the playground or searching for toys in Toys’R’Us (Rest In Peace). The footwear we’ve all come to use whenever we go for a stroll, the mamak to ‘yum cha’ with friends, chores, go down to the shops, the beach, wherever your feet take you, or none other than the perennial slippers, or sandals.
These open toed beauties are more utilitarian than even the most environment focused ones, simply because we’ve grown used to using them everywhere we go, but they need not be left behind in terms of quality and rarity. As your collection of heat continues to grow, we feel that the juggernauts under your feet should follow suit, and as such, we’ve compiled a list of the best slippers/sandals/slides that ensure you’re still as Malaysian as ever, without sacrificing the hype.
The Intro Level
Nike Benassi Slides
An exercise that is structured behind the ‘less is more’ ethos. Big Swoosh adorns the padded strap glued to a generously foamed midsole, that balances understatement with a pop of logo so people know that it’s still checks over stripes.
The Subtle Flex
Suicoke Moto VM-2
Suicoke actually started out making hand-painted Russian dolls before venturing into making footwear after partnering with established rubber manufacturers, Vibram. Innovation meets simple Japanese aesthetics that resulted in the silhouette you see above. Featuring large sheepskin strap, neoprene midsole and completed with Vibram outsole, there’s no questioning about its comfort levels that’s not only functional, but also aesthetically pleasing to look at.
For a more streetwear inclined look, BAPE actually collaborated with the brand showcasing the signature camo graphic on the sandal’s nylon strap, but it’s sold out, and we don’t know when a restock is happening.
All Out Flex
Sacai X Hender Scheme Leather Sandals
You pay for what you get, and this statement doesn’t get any more truer than this collaboration pair. Hender Scheme is known for imbuing its use of ultra premium leathers and making mockups of silhouettes such as the Nike Air Presto, Air Jordan 4, and Adidas Micropacer to name a few, and the brand has been tapped by Sacai to create what is possibly the finest handcrafted pair of sandals you’ll ever own.
The more functional pair is constructed with a brogued heel, and rich leather straps combined with nubuck highlights, whereas a soft wood base comprises the midsole, finished off with a steeply serrated rubber outsole.
However, another that infuses both brands’ DNA together would be Hender Scheme’s iteration of the Sacai sandal, making liberal use of raw, undyed leather for practically every surface that anchors the foot, save for the midsole that alternates soft wood and foam that looks like it’s been hand sanded for 3 months before completing the product.
The Staple Luxe Fashion House
Gucci Slides
You can’t really go wrong with these. Whereas slides like the Nike Benassi above offer simple practicality, a take and abuse anywhere kind of attitude, the Gucci slides do the same, except these are 10 times pricier, and cmon, it’s Gucci. you know you’re someone, or at least someone who has a left a little bit of common sense at home when you’re rocking these at Pavilion.
The Mainstream Hype
Yeezy Slides
Recently featured on Kanye’s feet in his new testament to the love of the women body, ‘I Love It’ featuring Lil Pump, the Yeezy slides presents itself into the casual wear entry that has Ye’s design language plastered all over it. What comes to mind however, is PLUSH. Deliberately oversized and what seems to look like overstuffed straps, it could definitely be an all-day beater. Or just bedroom slippers. Whatever you fancy putting your slides through. Just be sure to cough up a pretty penny for it.
The Actually Made For The Outdoors
Teva Terra-Float Universal Lite
A stripped down version of the Terra-Float, these were initially produced for outdoor used, but eventually made its way back to urban culture thanks to its solid build quality that’s definitely defines function over form. No fancy materials, no extra features, just straps to hold your foot to the Floatlite midsole, and that’s it. Why fix it when it’s not broke?
The College Kid Classic
Birkenstock Arizona/Sandal
Owned by the same family for the past 3 centuries, Birkenstock’s legacy is decidedly methodical, clinical, and straightforward. No flush bullshit, it’s set out to do what it’s done since it’s inception from 1778 till now, which is to provide orthopaedic footwear for the masses, and nothing else.
Despite being labelled as one of the world’s ugliest sandals, the comfort no doubt helps the wearer walk long distances without so much as a cramp or irregularities thanks to its sculpted insole that ensures all parts of the foot are rested, which translates to a larger surface area to step on. Which is why college kids have adopted it as their go to pair wherever they go. For extra hype, the brand has also enlisted Rick Owens to redesign the Arizona sandal, which features pony hair and an accompanying price tag of RM800. When you gotta flex, you gotta flex.
The Eccentric One
KEEN UNEEK
It’s not really a sneaker, but it’s not really a sandal. Much like overgrowth left unchecked that slithers over the general flora, the KEEN UNEEK takes a sneaker like approach to a sandal, employing a heel-back for additional support. There are no straps on this sandal, only cords that form the skeleton that wrap around the wearer’s foot for a custom fit. Whether or not you’re buying this for hiking, or simply plain walking, rest assured heads will turn wherever you go.
