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chaussures • shoes • 靴 • zapatos • schoenen

 

Barock launches its first fall-winter collection in summer 2024!

 

Following the promising reception of its network, the online boutique launched in the fall 2024.

Thus, Barock expands its possibilities to offer to as many people as possible:

  • Quality products
  • The choice to buy online
  • Free delivery in France
  • A free pair of Tabi socks
  • Efficient customer service
  • 14-day money-back guarantee*

It quickly became clear that it was necessary to also offer summer shoes... And it's done!

The first spring-summer collection is launched in May 2025!

* see general conditions of sale

 Barbara Van Amerongen

The story of a new step

It all started with a personal need. The need to be elegant and on my feet all day, without sacrificing my body!
For three years, I explored, tested, and adjusted. My goal? Create a shoe that would not only be a fashion accessory, but also a blessing.

 

Inspired by Japan, designed for your feet

The Barock shoe is the legacy of a centuries-old Japanese tradition: the Tabi sock, and its shoe version, the Jikatabi. I wanted to merge our cultures. The separation of the big toe? A detail that transforms the walking experience... better posture, better distribution of support, and therefore relief of tension. Comfort approved by podiatrists, and by my own body after three years of daily use.

It was necessary to combine this concept with Western design. Designed in France and manufactured in Portugal in small batches, Barock shoes embody a balance between innovation and tradition. Handcrafted and eco-friendly, they invite you to discover a new relationship with walking.

It all starts with a sensation... that of a freed foot, of a more fluid movement. Today, I share this unique experience with you.

Dare to take a different step, dare to take a new step!

 

Barbara Van Amerongen

 

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Origin of Jikatabi


Born in the early 20th century, Jikatabi are traditional Japanese shoes with a unique design: the separation of the big toe and the following.

Invented by Tokujiro Ishibashi, the brother of the founder of Bridgestone, the Jikatabi were initially intended for manual workers such as farmers, laborers of all kinds, and rickshaw pullers. Their design offered great flexibility and excellent grip on uneven ground.

Wrongly associated with ninjas in popular culture, these minimalist shoes were actually inspired by the Tabi. Socks with the same characteristics allow them to be worn over Geta or Zōri, Japanese sandals, a type of flip-flop with a sole made of wood or rice straw. The Tabi first appeared on the feet of the Japanese in the 15th century.

 

 

Biomechanics


During walking, the big toe plays a major role in the body's biomechanics. It exerts twice the total pressure of the other four toes. Its contribution to the push-off mechanism is essential, and freeing it significantly improves the distribution of ground pressure, thus preventing the body's compensations and the pain that can result. Through its big toe isolation principle, the Barock shoe also combats foot deformities, such as hallux valgus.

 

Values

 

Each Barock shoe model is a tribute to Japanese culture. It reinterprets classics with modernity, refinement, and understated elegance.
The key word is quality, from the meticulously selected materials to the care taken in their assembly.

 

Manufacturing

 

Our shoes are handcrafted in a family factory near Porto, Portugal, by highly skilled and dedicated artisans. The leathers are dyed with natural pigments. This 100% European production aims to reduce our carbon footprint.