Saint Laurent PVC shoes draw criticism over price and foot hygiene

Saint Laurent unveiled a pair of fully transparent PVC derby shoes at the Paris Men’s Fashion Week, part of its Spring‑Summer 2027 collection themed around restraint. The shoes, made entirely of non‑breathable plastic, were priced at 12,500 CNY (about 46 million VND) and required pre‑order with a delivery wait of two to three months.

Chinese netizens mocked the design, dubbing it a “visualisation of foot odor” and warning that the sealed environment could trap sweat, foster bacterial growth and produce strong smells. Medical commentary noted that the foot’s sweat glands produce up to 250 ml of sweat daily, and in a sealed PVC shoe the humidity can reach 96‑100 %, creating ideal conditions for bacteria such as *Staphylococcus epidermidis* and fungi like *Trichophyton rubrum*. The controversy highlights tensions between avant‑garde fashion statements and practical wearability.