As summer approaches, so too does the desire to dress down with breathable footwear. Japan’s Shaka proposes its own rugged sandals as the ideal seasonal staple, with grippy outsoles and bold patterns that make for ideal partners on warm weather adventures.
Shaka was founded in South Africa in the ’90s that was produced locally and sold internationally, taking inspiration from traditional African craft and the footwear worn by the Zulu tribe. Though it vanished in 2000, the company’s strong success in the Japanese market encouraged domestic entrepreneurs to purchase the license, eventually relaunching the label in 2013. Since then, Shaka has continued producing footwear with the same characteristics as the original designs, like durable webbed uppers, cushioned sole units and adjusted shapes that better hug the foot.
Spring/Summer 2020 introduces a handful of new patterns and tweaks some classic designs, yielding a variety of open-toe silhouettes. Militaristic olive options are joined by leopard- and cow-patterned slides, all anchored by a textured footbed and several offer adjustable heel straps to ensure a snug fit.
Look for more new styles to hit Shaka’s ZOZOTOWN page, Global Rakuten stockists and stores like BEAMS in the coming weeks.
A plethora of strap-laden sandal styles are hitting the market just ahead of summer, with KEEN’s Zerraport II, Fumito Ganryu’s shark-toothed Suicoke and Nike ACG’s Air Deschutz all surfacing recently.