Have you ever seen a flip flop thong before? Welp, now you have. Most people look at the Birkenstock and flip flops as finished products, but Tommy Jack Oddo Verdier found a third option hiding in plain sight.

Within the current fashion landscape of the 21st century, we have seen a massive push from designers in creative expression. People have stopped shying away from stereotypically “bad” looks, and transformed them into something nobody thought they could be.

One of my favorite designers I’ve been keeping tabs on Tommy Jack Oddo Verdier. I’ve picked up quite a few pieces from him including his wool felt boots, his black cat necklace and one of his 1/1 hand-made belt chain. To say the least, what stands out the most to me is the amount of “character” embedded in every products.

One of his most recent projects, the “Beach Bum” sandals, combines two beloved silhouettes into a single shoe: the Birkenstock Arizona, and the classic flip flop. It’s one of those ideas that you’re like, “it’s so simple yet so good, why didn’t I think of that”. The flip flop strap flosses through the Arizona silhouette, to create something that feels uncanny yet so familiar. Better yet, every pair comes with a pair of socks inspired by the Pennington Bear, the classic original sock monkey. If you’re in the market for some high quality, experimental flip flops or Birkenstocks, I would go Tommy Jack.

Through this project, Tommy Jack displayed his unique ability tap into his inner child, which most designer find quite difficult. As Picasso said "It took me four years to paint like Raphael, but a lifetime to paint like a child". This project was playful and nostalgic, yet thoughtfully crafted. More importantly, it shows that some of the best ideas come from places you’d never expect. Good design doesn’t come from following the rules, it comes from understanding and questioning them.