If you’ve been following us throughout the calendar year, you already know that we’re big fans of the “dad shoe”. After a few seasons of knitted and minimalist sneakers, it seems like everyone is now learning to embrace the chunky and over-padded silhouette. Thankfully, this trend means that our ankles and arches are well looked after, which also means we don’t have to sacrifice comfort for style. Sure we love our Chuck Taylors and Vans Slip-Ons, but sometimes we like a little something with support.
Yes, what was once viewed as strange and grotesque has quickly become the talk of the footwear world. Thanks to some slick work from haute couture brands like Balenciaga, Raf Simons, and Gucci, the chunky sneaker has made its way off of the runway and onto the streets and hyped Instagram posts. Now, everyone from Adidas to Nike is jumping on the bandwagon — even once shunned companies like FILA and Sketchers are making noise with drops of their own.
So, how did this all happen? How did the industry completely change its opinion on what looks aesthetically pleasing? Well, the good folks over at Highsnobiety did a little bit of investigating earlier this year and traced the origins of the chunky sneaker trend. What they found is that the whole craze started earlier than one might imagine. To learn more about the entire saga, click play below.
In related news, check out one of the recent creps to adopt the trend here.
