The Chunky Footwear Movement

Raf Simons X Adidas - Ozweego (Lyst.com)

Anyone today with a phone, a computer, or eyes can clearly see the recent changes in the footwear industry. The way we wear our shoes now is not how we wore them yesterday, and it certainly won't be the way we wear them tomorrow. The progression from sleek, low profile shoes to chunky massive sneakers is a natural one. This is simply footwear's reaction to the loose fits and changing silhouettes we've been seeing in the fashion industry for a while now.

Before the fresh trend, we wore clean and minimalist designs led by the likes of Adidas' Stan Smiths or the much loved Common Projects' Achilles Lows.

These were beautiful designs and a perfect representation of how 'less can be more,' but it was only natural for footwear to leap in the opposite direction.

The Raf Simons X Adidas Ozweego design was one of the first ‘ugly trainers’ that got things started, but it was with the release of Balenciaga’s much-hyped Triple S sneaker that popularized the chunky footwear movement.

Balenciaga - Triple S (highsnobiety.com)

Designers took notice of this movement about four to five years ago when a new brand of running shoes emerged on the scene. Designs like the Stinson Lite model from Hoka One One, catered to ultra runners who felt that extra cushioning helped protect their legs from the shock of running long distance. These early customers were often professional runners who competed in races, but after designers took notice of what the performance brands were producing, the potential customer for these bulky designs soon became you and me.

The Stinson Lite model - Hoka One One (hokaoneone.com)

Stella McCartney - Eclypse Metallic Sneaker (stellamccartney.com)

This doesn't mean that the minimalist look is leaving us forever. In this industry, the conversation between minimalism and maximalism is always ongoing. The only thing that's new is how the designer interprets this conversation. I believe that fashion, in its most natural mold, is and always will be, a reaction to what has come before us and to what is here today. These movements are truly fantastic. It allows ambitious designs from the likes of Hoka One One to inspire others like Stella McCartney, who recently released her Eclypse Sneakers, to follow in the footsteps of chunky footwear and other awesome movements.