‘More barefoot people than shoed’: Disturbing trend hitting Gold Coast businesses

Aussies are known for being laidback but this latest trend shows we have gone too far.

It’s truly the last frontier of fashion.

Across Australia we’ve hotly debated the ins and outs of G-string bikinis, whether or not activewear is appropriate out of the gym and if ties are ever truly necessary for workwear … but is it time to put our foot down when it comes to this latest trend?

Because being barefoot is back this season.

Now, some may describe the humble foot as the most quintessentially Aussie of all footwear, with the double-plugger thong reserved only for the fanciest of occasions, but I’m just not sure how acceptable it really is – despite what social media says.

Over on TikTok, the barefoot trend is gaining ever more traction, with some creators cutting out the bottom of their shoes to ensure they’re always touching the ground, while millions have watched viral videos of bare feet just going about their daily business.

On Reddit, the r/barefoot page has more than 20,000 members and is ranked in the top five per cent of all pages with its discussions of the ‘barefoot lifestyle’ – with many claiming that ‘earthing’ or ‘grounding’ connects them to nature and has health benefits, such as reduced inflammation, pain and stress.

While there can be come actual benefits, podiatrists warn that walking barefoot on footpaths, streets or inside public spaces can expose your tootsies to dangers like sharp objects, pollutants and germs that can lead to painful infections like tetanus, warts and hand, foot, mouth disease. These risks are even worse if you have cuts or cracks on your feet.

And also … it’s just kind of gross.

Look, I will happily walk barefoot around the home and at the beach (as long as the sand is not at lava-like temperatures), and I’m okay with naked feet at the corner store or cafe, so long as it’s within 200m of the actual coast.

But no shoes at Pacific Fair? We have to draw a line in the sand, people.

Yet social media is pitching Australia as the height of the bare-heeled culture.

One creator, Gold Coast-based Daisy Evia, even shared a barefoot video stating “living in Australia is perfect for us hippies who need to be grounded because shopping barefoot is so normalised.”

Are bare feet in poblic ever ok? Tiktok sparks fierce debate. Picture: Daisy Evia via TikTok

With almost 800,000 views, some commenters decried this apparent national obsession as ‘grotty’, but another stated: “I work at an Aussie Kmart, some days we get more barefoot people than shoed people.”

I mean, whatever, it’s their feet. But, when it comes to public places, you’ll take my shoes from my cold, dead feet.

And that’s a sentiment now being echoed by business owners and corporations alike, as they try to turn the tide against this bare-toed trend – even as more feet attempt to embrace the free life.

Are bare feet in poblic ever ok? Tiktok sparks fierce debate. Picture: Daisy Evia via TikTok

In fact, more and more airlines are now enforcing bans on bare feet, with passengers often kicking up a stink about shoeless travellers.

Qantas states that “footwear must be worn to the board, disembark and during your flight,” while Virgin Australia says “all adults and children who are capable of walking must wear suitable footwear”.

In the US, United Airlines and American Airlines include clauses in their ‘Contract of Carriage’ that allow for the removal of passengers not wearing shoes, should the flight attendant deem that necessary.

Having recently witnessed some unsavoury bathroom puddles during a long-haul Qantas flight, the question remains why anyone would willingly choose to go there without protection.

Because the truth is that even the most diehard barefoot fans can come unstuck.

Witness the time a barefoot man approached my husband, who was waiting beside the beachside public toilets as our son surfed, and asked if he could borrow his thongs. In order to use the facilities.

I mean, I’m all for the culture of Aussie mateship, but sole mates? That is truly a step too far.

Although my husband had pity for this man, there was no way he would allow those nude feet to make their mark inside his precious Havaianas, let alone grant permission for those soles to tread public toilet tiles.

It was an awkward exchange for all concerned, especially when the still barefooted man entered the bathroom and did not reappear for quite some time.

The point here being that when it comes to the question of unleashing our dogs, it’s not even a matter of fashion but public health and safety.

It’s time to put our foot down for the sake of our sole survival.

Originally published as ‘More barefoot people than shoed’: Disturbing trend hitting Gold Coast businesses