Slippers: A Glimpse into your Sole

Who cares about slippers?

Oftentimes, we view slippers as just another pair of footwear, the wearing of them a routine part of everyday life. It’s convenient, easy, and with the heat in Singapore, the most practical option. However, what we tend to overlook is that slippers (as with every other piece of clothing, accessory, or item we clothe ourselves in) are a part of fashion and individual style. It can, and has, iconography and symbolic value in representing the flow of fashion trends and identity markers.

To start, touch your heart and tell me whether you wore a pair of Crocs any time between post-five years old and pre-twenties. Now with your hand on your heart, you can’t lie: you haven’t. Crocs are perforated clogs, a shoe that until recently was ranked one of the **Top 50 Ugliest Shoes Ever Made. In recent years, we’ve observed a rapid rise in the shoe’s popularity. Now, the iconic silhouette populates the hallways of universities, with every hostel full of crocs in a variety of colours. In 2022, there was a increase of 65.5% to US$138.5 million in just the Asia Pacific region.

It is its undebatable practicality which draws people in. Made fully of rubber, good grip strength and available in every shade of the rainbow and beyond, the shoe is waterproof, beach-proof, sun-proof - everything-proof. The perforated holes serve as an element of customisation, and many students take to buying Jibbitz charms which reflect their identity and decorating their Croc as such. Jibbitz are custom charms which fit perfectly in these holes, and as Crocs advertises, “Every Jibbitz tells a story”. In a university setting, students can then play around with getting matching Jibbitz, their initials and more to make their crocs their own. The benefits of customisation, comfort and practicality are testament to the rise of crocs amongst youth. Not to mention, being able to put Crocs in sports mode! Crocs have hence evolved into becoming more than just a slipper, but the slipper for you specifically — A form of self-expression.

Not all slippers serve this purpose.

Havaianas is another classic slipper brand that has slowly been rising in the ranks. While Havaianas remains the classic option for slipperwear, it has gained increasing traction on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram as the face of “stylish-chic Copenhagen style” footwear. This refers to a specific brand of fashion, one that is sleek, elegant and classy.

Many can be found wearing the iconic slipper with baggy jeans or a maxi skirt, or even matching the slipper colour to a monochrome outfit. The slipper is no longer worn in a casual or convenient manner, but is an intentional choice paired with more formal attire. It has gained the title of “quiet luxury”; Havaianas is an icon of effortless style and chic demeanour.

So now, we’ve seen how slippers can be a tool of self-expression or a marker of identity. Slippers can also be explored as a cultural indicator.

This specific type of slipper was brought to my attention when I was visiting China. My masseuse had commented that she could tell the type of slippers I wore from the shade of my feet, the shape of how my toes fit and the texture of my skin. She was puzzled at my confusion, and mentioned that in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the feet was an incredibly sensitive and important part of the body and hence different slippers had different functions.

She introduced me to acupuncture slippers, which were worn commonly in the home. It is believed that these slippers press on acupuncture points which regulate blood circulation and release tension in the body

The health benefits of slipperwear was definitely a new learning point for me. However, this did not explain how she could decipher my preferred slipper type. When probed, she explain that as with the rest of the body, slippers were also used to protect the foot and uphold beauty standards.

In Korean, Chinese and Japanese styles, many slippers adopt a foldover. Instead of having the straps between the big toe and the second, the slipper has a flap which holds straight across. Choosing to wear this style of slipper is especially popular amongst girls, as the foldover ensures that they do not get calluses or rougher skin on their feet from the friction of the flap.

This specific beauty standard of baby-like skin down to the tippy toes has shaped slipper trends in these countries to this specific type of slipper. The foldover also allowed for the foot to maintain a narrow form, calling back to the beauty standard of narrow, petite and small feet for women.

Not only is this choice of slipper a reflection of societal values, but also of cultural norms embedded within beliefs.

All in all, there are far more examples of iconic slipperwear that have seeped into our lives. The comfortable and convenient choice of footwear is more than just a shoe, but oftentimes a subconscious reflection of our identity: Who we are, who we want to be, and the circumstances which shape our priorities.