Style
Around The World In 10 Flip-Flop Styles
These brands from around the world will help you slip into style and comfort with a pair of flip-flops that won’t break your stride – or trash the planet
Nothing says ‘summer’ like the unmistakable sound of flipping and flopping: the mainstay of seasonal footwear is convenient, light and never out of fashion. However, when made wrong, flip-flops can be uncomfortable for the feet and harmful for the planet. So, whether you’re sightseeing on holiday, lounging by the pool, or just trying to meet your daily step goal, you’ll need a pair of flip-flops that complements your summer wardrobe and, most importantly, won’t leave you with aching arches and painful blisters. If you can manage to avoid adding to the world’s plastic flip-flop-filled landfills, even better. From ergonomics to timeless style, these brands offer much more than freedom for your toes.
Freewaters
This San Francisco-based sandal company has been providing more than podiatric comfort for the past decade. Freewaters’ mission is to design ultra-comfortable slides and flip-flops that help fund clean water projects in Nicaragua, Haiti, Kenya and the Philippines. One percent of the proceeds from every pair sold goes toward providing safe drinking water to less fortunate communities. Meanwhile, every customer is left with high-quality sandals featuring soft cushioning, great arch support and a modern fit, all made from responsibly sourced leather and recyclable, non-toxic, PVC-free materials. If that doesn’t check all your boxes, their Cloud9 collection provides suspension that’s like walking on, you guessed it, clouds.
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Maliko
Autodidact shoe designer Ebuka Omaliko created his independent brand, Maliko, as a way to promote the value of artisans and share the diversity of his hometown Lagos with an international audience. Maliko’s sandals are designed to empower local communities through the detailed, authentic craftsmanship of different African artisanal techniques, including weaving, woodwork, crocheting and hand-knitting. The uniqueness of each design – plus the luxurious, clean silhouettes, bold use of colour and made-to-last quality – makes the brand’s sandals and flip-flops a wardrobe masterpiece.
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Maria Farro
Australian designer Maria Farro wove together her Bondi Beach roots with the serene lifestyle of Crete to create a summer-based brand that gives ancient sandal designs a more modern, simple look. Her aesthetically clean, neutral-toned flip-flops are designed to take you “from the city to the sea and back”, and are perfect for both casual and dressier events. The best part? They’re all handmade in small batches by Cretan artisans using 100% genuine leather, meaning each pair has unique colour, tone and texture. They will also age differently for an elegant lived-in effect.
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Island Slipper
What we call ‘flip-flops’, Hawaiians call ‘slippers’ – and if there’s anyone who knows what makes for good island-life footwear, it’s Hawaiians. In 1946, during WWII supply shortages, small family business Island Slipper began making flip-flops from old tyres. Eight decades later, they continue to hand-make every pair in Oahu, now using grain leather, recycled canvas and other low-waste materials. Their designs range from classic neutrals to bolder animal and floral prints, with a sandal style to cater for every island situation: an after-surf stroll on the beach, a poolside hang-out, a tropical night on the town… If Hawaiians say they’re good, we believe them.
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Indosole
In 2004, Indosole founder Kyle Parsons came up with the idea for the brand while walking barefoot around Bali with a pair of broken sandals in his hand. Almost 20 years on, he’s created some of the most responsible flip-flops out there, all while facing a huge environmental issue. Indosole takes the indestructible and highly polluting tyre waste sitting in Indonesia’s massive landfills, and transforms it – through a non-toxic process – into the high-quality rubber used for their signature sandals. Every pair is handmade in Bali using artisanal methods and repurposed materials, resulting in lightweight, flexible, comfortable and arch-supportive flip-flops able to effortlessly handle miles and miles of walking.
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Laidback London
An independent brand worn by Queen Bey herself should be on everyone’s radar – and if they’re empowering local communities, even better. Laidback London works with artisan communities in Kenya to create beautiful hand-embellished sandals made from recyclable rubber and leather by-products from the food industry. Inspired by the striking designs and colourful details that characterise the Maasai tribe, their sandals are all made in small batches, embracing the material’s natural imperfections to ensure each pair is one-of-a-kind. Add to the design an extra-cushioned sole, and you’ll get style and comfort for the price of one.
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Saola
The saola is a rare antelope found between Vietnam and Laos, also known as the Asian unicorn. It’s also the inspiration behind this footwear brand committed to maintaining biodiversity and conserving nature. French-based Saola designs sandals that meet the standards of functionality and fashion, all while keeping their carbon footprint to a minimum. They use algae foam and recycled corks for the soles, and donate a portion of their profits to protect endangered species – including, of course, the saola. All of their designs are inspired by nature and are ultra-light (90 grams per shoe!), giving your feet plenty of comfort to enjoy the summer breeze.
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TKEES
A favourite among celebrities, but still affordable for us mortals, TKEES flip-flops sport one of the sleekest, most minimalist designs you’ll find out there. The brand’s story began with a Canada-based wife-and-husband duo on a mission to find the perfect versatile barely-there, responsibly-made flip-flop – and having no luck, they created their own. Handcrafted in Brazil using cowhide leather, their iconic flip-flops are available in over 20 different shades, from linen white to dark cappuccino, and the shoes’ sleek design makes them a capsule wardrobe staple for dressing up or down, whether you’re spending the day at the beach or attending an elegant summer wedding.
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Jivanas
The word jivana means ‘life’ in Nepali – and footwear brand Jivanas aims to create fair jobs and good life opportunities for Nepali citizens, one pair at a time. The founding family left sunny California for the foothills of the Himalayas, hoping to make a difference in poverty-stricken communities, all while designing and manufacturing luxurious flip-flops. Their shoes are 100% biodegradable, using a vegetable leather made from tree bark, leaves and fruit, and a built-in insole that moulds to the foot to offer more stability and a personalised fit. The classic, modern and versatile unisex designs are a welcome addition.
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Okabashi
This family-owned footwear brand from Georgia remains one of the few to be made locally. Their vegan, cruelty-free and 100% recyclable flip-flops are inspired by the Japanese concept of wellness (okabashi literally means ‘wellness’), with every design focused on the principles of reflexology, applying subtle pressure to relieve and heal different organs, while providing full support and comfort. Okabashi are so confident in the quality of their products, they offer a two-year guarantee for every pair. Their designs come in timeless neutrals to go with anything, as well as brighter tones for a pop of summer colour. Relaxing and stylish? That’s all we ask for in a summer sandal.
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