Do People Go Barefoot In India?

As an Indian, walking on our streets can be tough. Unpredictable, unsafe, lack of sidewalks. It makes sense to be wary of using barefoot shoes given the thin soles.

India has been a country of being barefoot culturally though. Being an agrarian society, most Indians even today work and live barefoot. Even religiously, a lot of places of worship require you to be barefoot. 

This over the years has led to the adaptation of Indian feet becoming flatter and wider. It has been our natural adaptation to the kind of movement and surfaces we work with.

With the influx of modern shoes however, we are straying away from our natural ability and naturally wide feet. Jamming our feet in narrow shoes has led to a sudden spike in foot problems and podiatrist visits ever the last couple of decades. 

Tribes, and rural communities which are still primarily barefoot have seen to have much lesser foot problems than the urban Indian.

Being barefoot is allowing your body to recalibrate bottom up. It is your only connection with the earth. It is what affects the entire body’s balance.

Understandably, being barefoot everywhere is not possible, especially in India, and that is why barefoot shoes are important. They allow for you to get all the benefits of being barefoot (barring grounding), but at the same time be completely safe from elements like glass, stray needles, or super sharp objects. 

India is ready for the barefoot revolution, and we are proud to be spearheading it with our flagship product, Origin.