Footwear - Fashion or Function?

Footwear in society functions either on a functional basis or serves an aesthetic purpose.
This is the basis of the research done by Dr. Steven Robbins from McGill University.

Functional here means an advancement in health, whereas aesthetic means either as art or as a way to conform in society.

India provides the clearest example of how we transitioned from body decoration to shoes. Foot decoration in the form of henna painting actually predates human civilization. The anklet and the toe ring that we see today were part of the same culture of decoration. The sandals came from Europe as a new representation of the same.

Even examples of earlier Egyptian footwear were completely aesthetic since they were super fragile and offered no protection whatsoever.

All in all there were only a limited cases of functional footwear out and about, which were very specific, like snow shoes, or even army boots which were for specific surfaces.

All along, elevated narrow heels and tapered toe box have become a hallmark of aesthetic footwear for centuries.
In his words “They attenuate the support base thereby impairing stability and moreover, concentrate forces involved in standing to the digits and metatarsal- phelangeal joints causing deformities and arthritis.”

It is clear to the author that footwear use in history has always taken a more fashion and aesthetic first approach than a function first approach. So much so that shoes may even be ruining our foot function and giving us long term chronic health problems and mobility restrictions.

Zen Barefoot exists as a brand to bridge that gap and make shoes that do not affect function while also solve for our need to decorate our feet, and socially conform.