If you’re tired of lace-up sneakers and boring fluffy house slippers, there’s a new type of footwear that’s sure to shake up the shoe industry. Inspired by 1960s house party cuisine, Fondue Slippers are a thin replica of your foot that combines the satisfaction of not wearing shoes with all the fun of melted cheese. They’re kind of like those barefoot running shoes, just without all the false health benefit claims and they’re coming to you straight from (of course) Japan.
Tokyo-based freelance designer, Satsuki Ohata, created Fondue Slippers, which were exhibited at the Milano Salone Satellite 2014. He was inspired by, you guessed it, fondue, creating a production process that’s similar to dunking a piece of bread into cheese.
▼ Ohata and his muse.
Submerging your entire foot into heated PVC creates an exact replica of your tootsies, which can then be worn. Here’s a visual of the Fondue Slipper making process:
The final product is as bizarre as it is useful:
Fondue Slippers can be used as a true slipper by folding the heel down:
Or worn over the heel for outdoor use:
The Fondue Slipper website claims you can even run in these perfectly fitted shoes. Just make sure to avoid any pebbles, rusty nails, baby teeth, or anything that isn’t a nice flat surface…there’s very little standing between your foot and agonizing pain.
▼ And keep your feet clear of those closing train doors while you’re at it.
Ohata hopes to eventually sell at-home kits, allowing anyone to make their own pair of custom kicks. The photo below is featured on the Fondue Slipper site with the caption, “Make my Fondue Slipper! (In the future).”
Since they’re made of polyvinyl chloride, or PVC (as in the stuff PVC pipes are made of), Fondue Slippers are fully customizable and washable.
▼ Just don’t forget that these are shoes…and try to remember all the places you’ve stepped before washing them in the same place you brush your teeth.
But for all the potential foot injuries and drawbacks, Fondue Shoes are an interesting alternative footwear that’s sure to get attention in a variety of colors.
We’re not sure how popular Fondue Slippers will be or how comfortable they are to wear (we’re thinking your foot will get mighty sweaty wrapped in plastic), but it’s definitely an interesting idea. And at the very least, Fondue Slippers will satisfy your urge to dip your foot into a vat of hot melted cheese.
Source: Satsuki Ohata via Gizmodo Japan
Images: Satsuki Ohata
Do Japanese kids need to wear special slippers at school? One part of Tokyo doesn’t think so
These amazing Furoshiki Shoes from Vibram are designed to literally wrap around your feet!
We test out slippers from a company whose couch makes its users “useless human beings”
Tokyo’s cheapest shoe chain and 10 pairs of kicks that cost less than 10 bucks each
Ahh…Feet Bliss! Affordable Custom Made Shoes from KiBERA Make You so Happy You’ll Want to Keep It a Secret!
Japanese rice cooker recipe gives us a tasty new way to enjoy vegetables and wieners
Colour Hunting: The hot new street photography trend changing how we see Japan
Even at twice regular Daiso price, this handy item is still great for summer travel in Japan
Ghibli’s No Face continues to demonstrate his generous character growth by dispensing soy sauce
Body of missing American college student found in Kyoto mountains
Japan’s cheap beef bowl chain Matsuya opens gourmet Premium Matsuya with Kobe beef…inside Matsuya
Japanese convenience store shows us how to dress for the rainy season
A Japanese toast sandwich remix: The toasted rice rice ball[SoraKitchen]
Osaka is hosting a “hentai” event, but it’s probably not what you think
Japan Railways partners with Overwatch, heroes hit the Shinkansen for bullet train collaboration
Uniqlo reveals third round of massive 100-year-anniversary manga T-shirts for Jump’s Shueisha
Kyoto public junior high school becomes first in Japan with a hoodie school uniform
New official Ghibli anime food cookbook will teach you how to make Ponyo’s ramen and more
Starbucks Japan unveils new Frappuccino showcasing “mottainai” culture
What’s it like to join Tokyo’s walking-and-talking-with-strangers club for a day?
Tokyo’s Pokémon Cafe reopens this month with brand-new sweets and Pikachu show
Tourists brave Typhoon Jangmi to queue at two famous sites in Tokyo
Tokyo’s life-size Gundam anime mecha statue will be removed this summer
Ichiraku Ramen-inspired ramen sets from Naruto anime pay homage to Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura
Kanji ice cream becomes a sell-out hit in Japan
Japanese convenience store Lawson launches new “mini supermarket” chain, L Minimart
Japan’s real-world Pokémon hot spring’s first photos are here![Photos]
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Taking indoor shoes out: Elementary student style now trending among women in Japan
Japanese man arrested for stealing women’s shoes and replacing them with new ones
New North Korean Sneakers Bear More than a Passing Resemblance to Japanese Brand
Snorlax Pokémon slippers are awesomely adorable, make sounds when you take a step【Video】
If Evangelion heeled sneakers are on your feet, all’s right with the world with new shoe line
Hello Kitty shoes will make your feet cuter than ever
Kanye West receives flack for too-small Yeezy slides, calls it “The Japanese Way”
Fancy genuine leather shoes with squishable heels released from Japanese shoemaker
Own a pair of secret camera shoes? The police should be by shortly for a visit
Shoes for Shorties: Japan Develops Business Shoes for Men that Add an Extra 7cm
Street Fighter II and UBIQ collab shoes put some extra kick in your step
High-heel bandit nabbed in Tokyo, 450 pairs of women’s shoes seized
Lonely Japanese life hack: Make your empty apartment look like a party (at least in the entryway)
Want to gift someone shoes but don’t know their size? Japanese Twitter has the solution
Yakiniku sneakers from Japan let you wear your love for meat on your feet
Virtual idol Hatsune Miku’s new stage costume inspires gorgeous shoes in the real world【Photos】