20 March 2023 , 17:00
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Fashion can be hard to predict, with nostalgic styles often coming back in fleeting trends plastered across TikTok and fast fashion brands.
Nostalgia is a powerful tool with fashion suppliers like Primark selling items branded with well known children's shows such as The Powerpuff Girls. Even £2k boots from a Vegan brand called Koi Footwear, featuring the Teletubbies went viral recently.
However, Japanese fashion brand Uniqlo has awoken the wrong kind of nostalgia with trainers that have been criticised for looking like "school shoes".
These plimsolls are said to be reminiscent of primary school physical education shoes but instead cost 10 times the price, which has caused ridicule online.
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The Uniqlo shoes cost £39.90 online (UNIQLO)Uniqlo is known for simple clothing with a strong brand ethos of sustainability and quality material, which has made it popular among Gen Z in the pushback against fast fashion and overconsumption.
However, Uniqlo's simple trainers bears a striking resemblance to plimsolls that school children wear that can be purchased from supermarkets.
Twitter user Alex Collinson shared a screenshot of the product listing for the U Knitted Trainers. He said: "Uniqlo I love you, but you cannot rebrand PE pumps and then try to charge us £40 for them. It's not right."
Users weren't mad at the simple design, instead it was the high price that they had a problem with as the unisex U Knitted Trainers will set you back £39.90.
One person pointed out that similar shoes can be found for "£4 from your nearest supermarket".
The plimsoll price was the main issue for fans of the brand (UNIQLO)Fans of the design can find similar trainers from shops like Sainsburys and Asda, as well as pair of Knitted Slip On Trainers from M&S. However, adult sizes tend to cost a bit more than £4 with the M&S pair retailing for £35.
Uniqlo's shoes come in both off white and black shades, which one commenter said was a "big divide" in their school "between black pumps crowd" and kids "whose parents splashed out on white ones".
The trainers appear to be a hit with customers, with one review saying: "I was pleasantly surprised how comfortable these are. If you compare with a pair of normal espadrilles, these are much much comfortable."
They added the plimsolls were "bang on trend" and they had purchased other colours previously, buying the white shade this time.
Another Twitter user defended Uniqlo and the £40 plimsolls, they said: "I don't see why not. Toms did it."
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Popular shoe brand Toms is known for their espadrilles, often with a signature wicker sole, and sport a similar slip on design. A black pair of Toms could set you back around £50 or upwards, unless you find them in the sale.
The Mirror has contacted Uniqlo for comment on the plimsolls.