sole or footwear? balenciaga’s 3D molded, almost barefoot ‘zero’ shoes divide the internet

Zero shoes by balenciaga for ‘barefoot’ walking

Balenciaga introduces The Zero, an ultralight pair of 3D molded shoes that brings the wearer closer to the ground by making them feel as barefoot as possible. This slipper-like footwear cups the heel of the user with a closed-palm-shaped design and holds only their toe with an open covering. The sole material is made of Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate, which is a foam-like polymer often used for running shoes and sandals. Balenciaga’s Zero shoes are part of the label’s Fall 2025 collection and are set to be available in a wide range of colors to suit a variety of skin tones.

The idea of the footwear is to bring it back to its essence. The label showcases this by following the curve of the feet’s soles, cutting the sides for a swerving design, and removing all the upper parts of a conventional shoe look and keeping only the covering of the toe. Users can put on Balenciaga’s Zero shoes with or without socks. For those who opt for the latter, how they feel when they walk in this footwear is how the label imagines its purpose to be.

photos by Beini Qian via @beiniq___ on Instagram, unless stated otherwise

People have mixed opinions on the 3D molded footwear

People have weighed in on Balenciaga’s Zero shoes. Designers of the footwear – namely Head of Sneakers Design Beini Qian, as well as the label’s sneakers designer Adrián Marc Perrot Garín – have posted photos of the 3D molded shoes on their Instagram feeds. Some of them are waiting for the release of the footwear. A user says they want to put on the Zero shoes now. One comment points out that the label’s design inspiration may have come from iGUANEYE’s minimal sandals.

Their difference is that the sandals shelter all the toes while Balenciaga’s Zero Shoes only protect the big toe. Others are not keen: on Reddit, users share that the footwear ‘must be super uncomfortable,’ but on the other side, ‘feet enthusiasts are gonna love this one’. There are those who are worried their feet may not be aesthetically pleasing to look at when exposed, so a few photos posted by Balenciaga designers show how they could look if they wore socks with the Zero shoes. So far, Balenciaga has yet to release Zero shoes for purchase.

the rest of the toes is exposed

users can also wear socks with this ultralight, 3D molded footwear

the heel cup keeps the footwear in place

the footwear only covers the side and part of the big toe

Balenciaga’s The Zero shoes | photo by Adrián Marc Perrot Garín via @adri_pgarin on Instagram

the shoes are part of the label’s Fall 2025 collection | image courtesy of Balenciaga

the idea of the footwear is to bring it back to its essence | image courtesy of Balenciaga

project info:

name: The Zero

label: Balenciaga | @balenciaga