Pharrell caught some flack for this "Blank Canvas" collection with Adidas, offering white knit versions of everything from the Stan Smith to his signature Running Hu. The problem: They were released as a canvas around the Hindu holiday of Holi, where bright powders are launched into the air to fill the world with color. Whether it was an act of appropriation or reverence is a debate for another time. Either way, the sneakers were a very fresh option and set the scene for popular customization like we'd see later on the Off-White Air Prestos.
Flips: If lying low is the goal, a standard pair of flip flops, or thongs, can’t be beat. A pair slips on and off in seconds, packs easy and weighs little. In terms of comfort, leather flips are tough to beat after some breaking in but they can become slick when wet. Rubber top soles don’t compare comfort-wise, but are more utilitarian.
Outer Sole: Specialized rubber manufacturers like Vibram offer durable treads for hiking and portaging over rough terrain. Stealth Rubber, featured in Five Ten climbing shoes and Astral river shoes, is designed to stick to rocks to keep you on your feet in the current. You can spend days researching rubbers but at the end of the day, reputable brands use excellent proprietary sole materials.
The first thing you should be looking for when you want to purchase cute sandals is what kinds of materials they are made from. The most common ones are made from leather. This includes not only the straps, but the sole of the sandals as well. The leather is perfect to absorb sweat from your feet as well as endure a lot of wear and tear throughout the hottest months of the year. Leather also stretches as you're wearing it. This means that you're going to be able to have shoes that will mold to your exact shape and size of foot. You will not be locked into the mold that the manufacturer made for the shoe. Instead, you will create the mold using your foot.
