The world has seen its share of interesting footwear in recent years, including Uggs, Crocs, and the most recent trend, “toning footwear.” The overstated sneakers are intended to simulate walking on a soft surface to engage neglected muscles, and to create instability to engage muscles involved in balancing. Toning footwear was pioneered by smaller brands such as MBT, Ryn and FitFlop, but now is infiltrating mainstream brands such as Sketchers and Reebok.
Analysts predict that the shoe will be the next big trend in footwear despite its odd appearance. Others are more skeptical, likening them to Uggs, Crocs and Birkenstocks. The irony is that those who wear these “ugly” shoes swear by them.
A few years ago, Crocs were the greatest thing since sliced bread. Those who wore them thought they were comfortable and functional. Those who did not thought they were atrocious, to say the least. Apparently the negative attitudes prevailed, given Crocs Inc. recent trip toward bankruptcy. Considering that attitudes towards toning footwear reflect those surrounding Crocs, it will be interesting to see if toning footwear takes that same trip.
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