Maybe it’s because I ran my first marathon some weeks ago or the fact that I’m reading the “Shoe Dog”, a memoir by Nike’s creator, Phil Knight, that I’m intrigued by the appearance of this ugly trainers trend. 
The kick-off began in 2016 when Demna Gvasalia created the Triple S-sneaker for Balenciaga. Almost immediately it was marketed as a luxury sneaker and welcomed by the fashion in-crowd all over the world. Many fashion designers followed in these footsteps and presented their ugly examples: Acne with “Manhattan”, Calvin Klein’s “Carla” and Stella McCartney’s “Eclipse”. They all have the same characteristics: heavy, oversized and rough.
Do I like them? 
I think I do because these shoes represent an anti-fashion state of mind. I’m intrigued by this new phenomenon. There is always someone somewhere who comes up with a contradictory creation that we either accept or delete.
Is ugly fashion the new fashion? There is clearly a fashion movement nowadays that views and makes garments differently from what has always been defined as (traditionally) beautiful. These clothes give a new meaning to elegance, finesse and beauty in tailoring and craftsmanship. Chunky shoes can look ugly but it doesn’t mean they are. They’re just another type of comfortable and wearable trainers.
We all give different meanings to ugly. Some might see sneakers as ugly while others might embrace the sassy creation.Nowadays everyone wears sneakers all the time. They have become a mainstream fact. The fashion designers are daring us to wear it differently. They reinvent the sneaker without sacrificing comfort. They embrace ugly as a positive message because you don’t always have to look perfect. They send out a clear anti-conformity message. It’s like finding beauty in imperfection. 
I bought my pair of ugly-cool shoes, an example of the Vetements & Reebok collab in 2017. They do look chunky and unfitting but they feel light and comfy. Does that make me a follower of the fashion statement community? Maybe – but I definitely like this concept of a refreshing type of sneaker.
We always can enhance this newcomer with an appropriate fashion slogan :
Just make it, just wear it, just do it!
Under this philosophy, I am more than confident to walk the walk with my mastodons.
To be continued…
TeDe
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