Avant-garde and boundary-pushing footwear designs have spawned from the mind of Demna during his tenure as the creative director of Balenciaga, creating designs like the infamous sock shoes that resemble Yeezy Pods or the ultra-massive 10XL sneaker. For the brand’s Fall 2025 fashion show, we saw the debut of a brand-new model that simplifies footwear to its most basic and essential form.
Unlike other simple slip-on designs meant to be minimal, Balenciaga’s take on the trend brings things to an extreme. Dubbed the Zero, the 3D molded EVA foam slip-on sole brings you as close to barefoot as possible with a one-piece design, heel cup, and toe groove securing your foot in place but leaving most of your foot exposed. The grooves align with the structure of the human foot, leaving indents for the toes and forefoot to rest within the thin foam.
Lockdown is secured via the wrap-around structure that holds the big toe in place. On the thin outsole sits a print pattern reminiscent of the natural print on human toes and fingers. The color palette among the previewed pairs primarily sticks to neutral and natural hues, some of which look similar to human skin tones that add to the barefoot appearance.
The Balenciaga Zero will be released as part of Balenciaga’s Fall 2025 collection, with pre-orders available now if you have a relationship with the luxury fashion house. The retail price is being reported to be around $450. Download the Sole Retriever mobile app to stay updated on the latest releases, raffles, news, and more in the sneaker and streetwear world.
Images via myfacewheno_o, beiniq___, adri_pgarin
Sneakerhead from South Florida who turned his passion into a career. Concerts, music, trying new restaurants, and catching the latest movies are some of the things I enjoy when not writing for Sole Retriever. Email: nick@soleretriever.com
