Amidst this reign of terror deriving from hyped launches, not so limited products and infinite retros, we find a handful of casual footwear options that capture the imagination of the few. Admittedly a retro, but this article will break down the Reebok Beatnik sandal -- a personal favourite of our footwear writer @tommycorlito.
The Beatnik launched back in 1993. This strap-ridden, ripple-soled sandal was released as part of a hiking and outdoor footwear range; in one sense, its introduction to street fashion as a whole is a happy coincidence directly comparable to that of any current Salomon XT-range sneaker. A soft and pliable upper means comfort is prioritised; thick leathers or rigid canvas aren’t seen to be as foot-friendly with constant wear when compared to a plush corduroy or even long-hair, padded suede. Reebok’s iconic ripple-sole has been seen on silhouettes before, we recall Classic Leather and Workout models sitting atop the aggressively angled, high-profile outsole.
In the 90’s, a following within Japan surrounding the article of footwear materialised, a cult if you will. So, when the sandal saw the light of day once more during SS2018 it made perfect sense for the six-piece collection to be exclusively available via Japanese retailers. Despite being produced in South America’s Brazilian factories once-upon-a-time, this was a minor factor to dodge replication from 2018-onwards.
Want to know more, or a keen literary historian? Get your geek on and wipe across!
