Bata Slippers

For most of my childhood in Malaysia, my main casual footwear were Bata slippers. I wore them everywhere, from riding my bike, to the pools, and even as evening wear. I wore them for years too, until I was probably in my mid-teens. They were comfortable, easy to slip on and provide great airflow, which is a great feature in a hot and humid country.

At least my feet were comfortable.

There are a couple of stories about my slippers that I remember. One was an urban myth from my cousin Kris who stated that my extended use of slippers would cause your 2nd toe to extend way beyond your big toe. I can tell you now that if that were true, my feet would look like ET's hands.

Nothing wrong with my toes at all.

The other story revolves around a time when I was supposed to go out to dinner with my extended family. Of course the only thing to wear for such an occasion were my blue & whites. Apparently this wasn't up to the dress code for the restaurant (I can't remember which restaurant it was) at Lake Club, so my grandfather dragged my ass off to the shoe shop at the club, all the while giving me a lecture about my slippers. All I can remember about those shoes were that they weren't terribly comfortable, but they did get me into the restaurant.

To me, the slippers were a symbol  of my laid back attitude in life, that life shouldn't be taken so seriously. Fashion should always be comfortable and reflects who you are, and never conformist. Looking back at it now, I still never understood why a kid couldn't just wear slippers into a restaurant. Was it an industrial zone with big blocks of lead falling on people's toes? No. Are my feet so mangled that the mere sight of them caused one to puke? No. Which probably explains why I don't wear a suit to work too. I work better when I'm comfortable and I'm happier when I'm comfortable.

The sad thing is, I can't get them anymore. I've had friends and family scour the various Bata shops in Malaysia to no avail. Apparently they used to be pretty big in India too, sold as Bata Hawaii Chappals, but they've since stop making them there too. I was hoping to pick up a pair for myself, and a set for my kids, so that they too get to train their toes to be able to pick up dropped keys, write letters and peel bananas. There is some hope though. I've been searching the internet for awhile now, and it looks like Bata Kenya still sells them under their Patapata brand. It might take me awhile before I head out that way, so in the mean time, I'll have to make do with whatever I can find.

The Bata Patapata slipper. The only thing missing is the blue Bata logo.