"Air sandals" - a term used by people in southern China for a specific type of sandal - originated in the 1980s as an evolution of the standard flip-flop. Southern China, particularly its coastal regions, features a hot, humid maritime climate. Locals frequently traversed mountains, waded through streams, and ventured into the sea in daily life, while ordinary footwear at that time suffered from poor water resistance and unstable traction. Observing the good water-resistant qualities of traditional flip-flops, locals used their ingenuity to weave extra straps onto them, creating the earliest version of "air sandals", also known as outdoor sandals. This simple modification fixed the sandals firmly on the feet to prevent internal slipping, while retaining excellent water resistance for outdoor use.
However, these rudimentary handmade modifications had obvious limitations. Though capable of keeping feet dry, the early air sandals failed to provide reliable anti-slip traction on wet and rugged surfaces. Besides, the manually woven straps were fragile and prone to snapping during strenuous movements, especially the central strap of traditional thong-style flip-flops, which greatly affected the wearing experience and durability.
Cai Enkang, co-founder of the Biaoke company who grew up in southern China, deeply understood the practical drawbacks and daily frustrations brought by these early sandals. Based on the original design, Biaoke carried out continuous iterative refinement and upgrading. The brand eliminated the fragile central strap and adopted professional specialized rubber materials to craft thicker, tougher and more slip-resistant soles. In addition to optimized materials and mature manufacturing processes, Biaoke's design team also upgraded the overall appearance, enriching the product with more fashionable and versatile styling options.
Nowadays, air sandals have completely broken through their original positioning as simple practical footwear for southern Chinese farmers working in mountains and waters. With improved performance and aesthetics, they have gained huge popularity in urban scenarios and become a mainstream footwear choice widely applicable to various outdoor adventure activities and daily wear.