What The Gen Z Wants The Foot Fetish Edition

From Sambas to Slides and everything in between, here's how the new generation is defining taste, comfort and cool, one pair at a time

- By Niraj Kakade

Back when “What are those?” ruled the meme economy, millennials were shelling out half a lakh for Travis Scott Jordan 1s. Flexing was loud, logos were currency, and every drop felt like a social event. But now, Gen Z has entered the chat, and they're wearing beat-up Sambas like they're family heirlooms.

The hypebeast is dead. Long live the thriftbeast. Scarcity is out. Repeatability is in. Gen Z isn't queuing for Yeezys, they're buying beaters, thrifting the forgotten, unboxing on Instagram, and calling it a day. So, what's really changed?

CLEAN, BUT NOT BORING

Let's start with the obvious: Gen Z has a type. They love a clean, flat silhouette — but not the snooze-fest kind. Think Adidas Sambas, Onitsuka Tigers, Puma Speedcats. Low to the ground, high on taste. It's minimalism with personality — a whisper of cool, not a scream for likes.

“Gen Z leans toward clean, minimalist staples that slot right into their daily wardrobes,” says Abhinav Verma, co-founder of ARKS, the label backed by Ranbir Kapoor. “They want style and comfort, not either-or.”

They're not just anti-hype — they're post-hype. Where millennials flexed via resale tags, Gen Z flexes via wearability. Sambas with cargos on Monday, with pleated trousers on Friday, with a silk sarong on Saturday night. The goal? Fit in just enough to stand out.

THE FLEX, REWRITTEN

Gen Z hasn't stopped flexing. They're just doing it differently. The five-figure Travis Scott resale tag has been replaced by DIY lace charms, limited collabs, or turning a budget dupe into a style statement. It's less about price and more about personal spin.