Slippers are the “it” shoe of the COVID era. Young consumers fueled the loungewear and athleisure industry during quarantines, and that led to a lot of slipper-wearing at home. This year, fashion brands increasingly churned out comfortable, “indoor-perfect” shoes. But rather than labeling them as “slippers,” they marketed them as either mules, slides, or clogs. Because people leave their houses for quick trips or “10-minute spells” at a time, they’re looking for inside shoes that can be also briefly worn as outside shoes. The Lyst Index reported that there has been a continued upswing in demand for comfortable, slip-on footwear with men’s sandals seeing an increase of 47%. Crocs saw a 750% year-over-year increase in sales this year, while Yeezy slides saw a 400% boost in sales. Birkenstocks, Uggs, and other “ugly,” comfy shoes are among the shoe brands that have been popular during lockdowns. (Glossy)
