Sneaker of the Week: Slip your feet into something toe-tally different with Vibram

Afika Jadezweni

Sneaker trends are getting closer to the foot, and Vibram FiveFingers takes the idea to its most literal conclusion.

After years of maximalist trainers, footwear is looking increasingly close to the ground. The shift can be seen in the growing appetite for slim running silhouettes, ballet-inspired sneakers, split-toe shoes and barefoot designs, all of which share an interest in what happens when the sole gets thinner and the shape of the foot becomes more apparent. Vibram FiveFingers takes that idea to its most literal conclusion, separating each toe into its own compartment and making the anatomy of the foot part of the shoe’s design.

Vibram introduced FiveFingers in 2006, developing the design around barefoot movement while retaining protection and grip. The range has since expanded well beyond its original performance remit, with current styles including the V-Run for running, the KSO EVO for cross-training and outdoor activities, and the V-Soul for training and studio workouts.

What makes Vibram FiveFingers particularly relevant now is the wider move towards anatomical footwear. The chunky trainer has dominated sneaker culture for long enough that its opposite feels increasingly fresh: a shoe with less elevation, a wider toe box and a silhouette that allows the foot to retain more of its natural shape. FiveFingers does not soften that proposition for the fashion crowd, which is part of its appeal; the individual toe pockets make the design unmistakable, much like a technical garment whose construction has been left deliberately visible.

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For South African shoppers, however, the FiveFingers are more of an online find than a shoe you can expect to pick up from a mainstream sneaker retailer. Current imported listings include the KSO EVO at around R5 850, while other FiveFingers models are currently listed in the region of R2179 to R7000, depending on the style, size and retailer.

The price makes sense in the context of FiveFingers as a specialist shoe, but it also means the trend can be tested without committing to the full toe-by-toe proposition. Zara currently has several barefoot trainers available in South Africa, including the Sporty Ballerina shoe at R679, Barefoot ballet flats at R959, and Barefoot Contrast Trainers for men at R959. These have wide toe boxes, flexible soles and minimal or zero drop, so they follow the same anatomical design logic without separating the toes.

That distinction is worth keeping in mind: a barefoot trainer is not a FiveFingers substitute in terms of construction, but it does offer a more conventional way into the same footwear direction. For anyone interested in the look rather than the full technical proposition, Zara’s options make the trend considerably easier to try.

With FiveFingers themselves, styling works best when the rest of the outfit gives the unusual silhouette some breathing room. Wide-leg denim, relaxed trousers, A-line skirts and longer shorts create a useful proportion against the close-fitting shoe, while cropped trousers expose more of the foot and lean into its technical character. Socks can work, too, although a visible pair changes the balance considerably and makes the shoe feel more deliberately styled than purely functional.

COPENHAGEN, DENMARK: A guest attending the Anne Sofie Madsen show during Copenhagen Fashion Week SS26, is seen wearing a strapless asymmetric panel-constructed mini-dress; a long, bias-cut skirt and a pair of pink Vibram Fivefingers ballerinas in breathable knit mesh with split-toe ergonomic shape. (Photo by Moritz Scholz/Getty Images)

Model on catwalk, shoe detail (Photo by George Chinsee/Penske Media via Getty Images)

PARIS, FRANCE: Fashion designer Jean Marc Virard wears Vibram FiveFingers shoes on day 7 of Paris Women’s Fashion Week. (Photo by Kirstin Sinclair/Film Magic) 

The appeal here is not simply that FiveFingers look different. Their relevance comes from the fact that the sneaker conversation is broadening beyond cushioning, height and increasingly elaborate soles, and towards footwear that is lighter, flatter and more closely related to the anatomy underneath it. FiveFingers is simply the most literal expression of that idea.

This article was not sponsored and contains no affiliate links. All opinions expressed are those of the editorial team.