*By Michael Teich* Gaining a step on established industry giants like Nike and Adidas can be daunting for the little guys, but the San Francisco-based shoemaker Allbirds has gained a small but promising foothold, said the Wall Street Journal fashion editor Jacob Gallagher. The sneaker company prides itself on producing the "most comfortable shoe in the world," and claims to have sold 1 million of its unassuming kicks since 2016. Though the powerhouse global athletic brands tout collaborations with flashy designers including Kanye West and Alexander Wang, Allbirds has cozied up to shoppers with just three, simple unisex styles of casual shoes and streamlined designs. Allbirds is "a shoe that thrives by being as nothing as possible" and is "the white T-shirt of sneakers," said Gallagher. He tributes the early success of Allbirds to its embrace of Normcore minimalism. Consumers are gravitating toward more comfortable products and dressing more casually, which works for Allbirds, Gallagher said. If trends move away from monochrome simplicity towards flashier, more colorful styles, the two-year-old Allbirds may have to adapt to survive. For the full interview, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/shoe-start-up-allbirds-bets-that-simple-is-the-new-sexy).

Share:
More In Culture
How Pets Might Boost Your Mental Health
Alina Hauptman, a communications strategist at the Best Friends Animal Society, joined Cheddar News to discuss how pets can actually give a boost to your mental health.
Need2Know: January 20, 2023
Singer David Crosby has died, actor Julian Sands is missing, and actor Alec Baldwin will be charged with involuntary manslaughter. Here is everything you Need2Know for Friday, January 20, 2023.
David Crosby, Rock Star and CSNY Co-Founder, Dies
David Crosby, the brash rock musician who evolved from a baby-faced harmony singer with the Byrds to a mustachioed hippie superstar and an ongoing troubadour in Crosby, Stills, Nash & (sometimes) Young, has died at 81,
One Good Thing: ‘Welcome Corps’
Cheddar News discusses a new State Department program, the ‘Welcome Corps’ that will allow private U.S. citizens to sponsor refugees from around the world.
Load More