Suicoke & Midorikawa Drop Horrifyingly Fleshy Toenail Shoes
Brand: Midorikawa x Suicoke
Season: Fall/Winter 2021
Release Date: November 19
Price: $268
Buy: Suicoke's web store, SSENSE, H.Lorenzo, and select stockists
Editor's Notes: Toe shoes are divisive to begin with but Japanese label Midorikawa's anatomical take on the Vibram FiveFingers silhouette makes the style even worse by adding... toenails.
The 2021 LVHM Prize-shortlisted brand has earned a huge domestic following with its heavily deconstructed menswear staples inspired by "unfashionable apparel" and bygone eras of menswear.
Designer Tadu Midorikawa might've gone too far, though, with bringing a nightmarish touch to the five-toed shoe.
Teaming up with Japanese footwear label Suicoke, Midorikawa is issuing the offending shoe in three skin-toned colorways — Ivory, Snow, and Mocha — all laden with toenails painted in tones of cream or red.
This is far from Suicoke's first stab at the anxiety-inducing FiveFingers: the NIN-LO has been part of Suicoke's repertoire for a couple years by now.
Even still, Midorikawa is taking us too deep into the uncanny valley with this fleshy footwear. We can handle a bit of foot via a transparent uppers and sandals, but making the toe the visual focus has rarely fared well.
Unless you're really passionate about achieving natural foot motion on your run — or peacocking at fashion week, perhaps — Midorikawa's Suicokes are gonna be a tough pill to swallow for anyone not inured to its whimsical designs. For reference, Midorikawa recently issued and sold out of a series of sweaters and shirts stitched with a 3D, kinda phallic nose.
Of course, this isn't the first time Vibram has caused a stir with its collabs, either.
Though arguably more subtle, Balenciaga's Vibram FiveFingers shoe also caused waves.
Shop our latest sneakers
Want to keep browsing? Head to the Highsnobiety Shop for more products that we love.
To stay updated on everything happening in the sneaker world, check out the best sneakers to add to your rotation this week, follow @highsnobietysneakers on Instagram, and sign up to our newsletter for early access to the best drops sent straight to your inbox.
