Monsoons are finally here and we cannot thank the heavens enough! But while we double down on the overdosing on chai and pakodas, we also need to prepare for the monsoons by stocking up on umbrellas, raincoats, appropriate footwear, and lots of patience while booking a cab.
For footwear, we thought we'd help you out, and make a list of the best monsoon friendly footwear from out favourite brands.
Recently showing up on our radar, Paaduks is a quirky brand that does great contemporary footwear for both men and women. They have several categories and collections including knitted, suede, sandals, and even monsoon. Their Monsoon collection is a 100% handcrafted made from up-cycled rubber, cork, and vegan leather. This collection is waterproof while their Colours of Warmth collection is water resistant.
LBB's Pick: Sade double strapped sandals because we love how they look, and straps are definitely trending right now!
They have a cult following which is unmatched. And while we love the prints, the style, and the reliability of the brand, they are no doubt perfect for the monsoon too! For women, they have everything from clogs, sandals, flip-flops, to even wedges and flats. Crocs are made of CrosliteTM which is a proprietary resin material produced by Crocs, that gives each pair soft, lightweight, comfortable, non-marking and odor-resistant qualities, which are good for the monsoons!
LBB's Pick: These all terrain unisex sandals that are a good daily-wear pick and can be worn to most occasions including work.
Neeman's have been our recent favourite brand doing the most for the planet and our feet too. They have a sizeable collection of unisex shoes and slippers made of various material including recycled plastic bottles, wool, wood pulp, and more. Coming to their merino wool shoes, we think they're good for the monsoons since the shoes wick moisture, are odour resistant, lightweight, and comfy. Plus, the shoes need to absorb at least 30% of its weight of sweat to feel even slightly damp. This makes it better than cotton which when gets wet, remains wet. It also dries much faster than cotton.
LBB's Pick: These wool classic sneakers that are made of merino wool, and can be easily be worn anywhere.
If you've ever stepped into a Westside store, we bet you've noticed their collection of shoes from Soleplay — a brand that does contemporary slides, sandals, and flip flops for both men and women. A lot of their shoes have an EVA sole which is and elastomeric polymer that produces materials which is "rubber-like" in softness and flexibility, and best of all is waterproof.
LBB's Pick: This buckled Berkkie sandals that are not only a good monsoon pick, but a great alternative for Birkenstocks too.
Pro Tip: If you want more alternatives to Birkenstocks, then check this out!
We love Decathlon for various reasons and one of them has got to be their collection of shoes. You'll find everything from hiking, running, to trekking shoes from different reliable brands. For monsoons, while on the look out we came across Subea's aquatic shoes which are made for water adventures making them perfect for the monsoons too! (Obviously!)
LBB's Pick: The adult Aqua Shoes 120 which are anti-slip, quick-drying, and don't let mud and other stuff get in.
You can't be smack dab in the middle of monsoons and not have a monsoon pair of running shoes. We think when it comes to running shoes (or school shoes) campus has been doing well all these years. The shoes are good quality and meant to last you against all odds. They do shoes for men, women, and kids, across decent price ranges. What we love about their running shoes is that they all (almost) have an upper mesh that's perfect for not only breathability, but to wick away water too!
LBB's Pick: Alexa women's running shoes for the mesh design!
H&M needs no introduction, but just to remind you, this fast fashion brand has been making big waves all these years thanks to their chic, stylish, and modern apparel and shoes. When it come to shoes, always expect the best of trends, styles, and cuts. They don't have a monsoon collection per se, but we spotted a bunch of sliders made of Polyurethane, a plastic material which is water-proof, and resistant!
LBB's Pick: These beige slides that are chic-looking and won't get damaged in the rains.
Daisie is a homegrown brand that prides in doing slides that are breezy, fun, and quirky, and rightly so. You'll find a bunch of styles, patterns, and cuts of slides here that can easily be dressed up or down. They're perfect for daily, office-wear too. Their shoes are made of rubber and vegan leather which make them super monsoon friendly!
LBB's Pick: These animal printed slides.