Vibram Fivefingers hits the Philippine shore

There are a lot of revolutionary innovations in footwear these past decades. Science plays a pivotal role on how thinkers study the condition and shape of our feet to suit the right footwear to achieve both comfort and style.

For thousands of years, people have grown accustomed to wearing closed footwear. When Vibram founder Vitale Bramani invented the first rubber soles for mountaineering boots in 1935, it was the beginning of a revolution. More than 70 years later, Vibram is still known around the world as the undisputed leader in soling technology for a wide range of quality performance footwear.   Today, Vibram manufactures more than 34 million soles annually for more than 1,000 premium footwear brands worldwide such as Nike, Merrell, Ferragamo, Gucci, Cole Haan and Prada, to name a few. 

The year 2006 marked the barefoot revolution as Vibram finally unveiled VIBRAM FIVEFINGERS, a unique footwear design that mimics the feeling of being barefoot. It allowed people to experience the sensation and freedom of going barefoot with the protection and sure-footed grip of a Vibram sole.  It's as if you're not wearing anything because this footwear also has 5 toes, perfect for sports activities including playing in the beach.

Made by abrasion-resistant stretch polyamide fabric and Vibram TC-1 performance rubber weighing 5.3oz. each, Vibram Five Fingers immediately took the world by storm, catching especially the eyes and feet of athletes and sports aficionados. This led to being awarded as one of Time Magazine’s Best Inventions of 2007. To date, the barefoot revolution has invaded Europe, North America, Australia and very recently - Asia.

This year, the barefoot revolution reaches local shores, aiming to change the lifestyle of the active Filipino one foot at a time. Barefootwear Inc., the company that distributes the ingenious footwear in the country, recently held a sports-themed media launch on September 22, 2010 at the Metropolitan Club, Rockwell Makati.  The event gathered athletes, sports fanatics, celebrities and select health, sports, and fashion media personalities. 

Gracing the event were celebrity athletes Lorraine Lapus of the Philippine Sufring Academy, Corey Wills of Pulse Yoga, former Olympian Eric Buhain, multi sport coach and athlete Joseph Pagulayan, ultramarathoner Ronald Declarador, and Frisbee star Reema Chanco who all profess to Vibram Five Finger’s many advantages.  They related their experiences with the very unique footwear, proving the versatility of this new product. 

The launch highlights also included the Kettlebell demonstration by the Philippine Kettlebell Club, headed by Nico D’haenen and Running demos by the TRIMAC coaches, headed by Jay Valencia.  The activities demonstrated the many benefits of the Vibram Five Fingers such as better flexibility, stronger muscles, and improved posture among others. Guests were able to try first hand barefooting while engaging in these activities.

Barefootwear Inc.’s Marketing Manager Cherry Ermita puts it “The Filipino will never walk the same way again."

The Vibram Five Fingers store is located at Level R1 Bridgeway in PowerPlant Mall, Rockwell. Visit the official website at www.barefootwearinc.com.