How Chinese Slippers became the footwear of the season

Do you remember when you used to go to the beach and your grandmother, aunt or mother would go to the bazaar and buy the mythical Chinese slippers in a thousand different colors with flowers adorning the instep? Now they are all the rage. From the trend of the fishnet ballerinas, whose culprit of the boom was Alaïa, which has made thousands of sales with its top product of the summer, now comes the resurgence of the Chinese slippers.

The truth is that these slippers have a long history in Chinese culture; they have been used in both domestic and leisure activities. Moreover, in the East they have always been a very sophisticated and luxurious shoe, as they were made with delicate materials, and only worn by the upper classes who did not have to work.

During the 20th century, especially in the 50’s and 60’s, the “Chinese slippers” gained popularity in the West, being used as a comfortable shoe to be at home. In our century, they have passed the domestic barrier to become another fashion item that has been making its debut over the past decade.

At Balenciaga’s spring 2016 presentation, when Alexander Wang tried to pass off his version of the lifelong shoe for a few dollars. Also, at Gypsy Sport Spring 2017, the Chinese Slipper was presented in true form, as we remember it, in a variety of colors over a variety of tube socks.

Now, with TikTok as a trendsetter, and with plenty of trendsetters wearing them on vacation, Chinese slippers have come back to conquer global fashion. But it’s a comeback that feels natural, judging by the way the trend market is drifting this year: mesh sneakers are in, the Y2K aesthetic is still around after years, and grandfather shoes, which were once motivated by 80s-style sneaker silhouettes, are now moving to a more feminine shoe. The latest brand to join this wave has been Mango which, in its latest collection together with Siedrés, has opted for garments with clear reminiscences to the fashion of the 2000s and with this has included the Chinese Slippers in the series.

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