These Ashiato sandals look like ordinary Japanese ge-ta (traditional wooden footgear) from the top, but leave behind animal footprints in their wake, because of pawprint designs carved in relief on the bottom of the sole. Made by Kiko+, an interior design firm that turned its creative minds towards kids’ toys, the clever sandals can come in 5 different animal prints: cat, gecko, owl, monkey, and zaurus (which seems to be a dino-shaped foot).
Everything about this design is right– the sturdy bottoms are made of pine while the straps are made of rubber, which means easy cleaning after trips to the beach or the sand box. The footprints also look clear and defined in the photos, meaning that sole has is balanced between being low enough to walk evenly and being high enough to leave a firm imprint in the sand. It appeals to both kids and adults– really, both the execution and the design are just beautiful.
I wish they made these in adult sizes– I’d want the dino one just for fun. [Via Spoon and Tamago.]
