Australian footwear label Boomerangz is on a mission to put an end to thong blowout.
Recognising the inconvenience, environmental impact (wastage) and potential danger posed to the wearer of thongs that experience a blowout (when the plugs snap off the strap), Boomerangz reimagined the classic thong to ensure a 'no-blow' guarantee.
Instead of the round plugs that are seen on the bottom of thongs, Boomerangz' thongs feature a boomerang-shaped plug - a wide ‘V’ that folds over and pulls through the base, instead of snapping off.
"Thong blowout was a problem that needed fixing," Boomerangz chief flip flop officer Brad Munro said.
"I got talking with a mate over a few beers and we came up with a solution after a lot of discussion, prototype ideas and more than a couple of blow out stories.
"We wanted to create a superior thong that held together, but could be easily repaired instead of needing to buy a new pair," he said.
As such, Boomerangz wearers can replace any broken straps for free over the lifetime of the shoe.
"Don’t throw it away, fix it!" Munro added.
Despite prolonging the life of the shoe through its straps replacement service, Boomerangz' thongs won't stick around long once the wearer is well and truly done with them.
The shoes are made from natural rubber and BMZ Bio-FoamTM - a trademark material mix with an organic additive that speeds up bio-degradation in a biologically active landfill - meaning Boomerangz break down in less than a year.
The shoes are also Vegan Certified and animal cruelty free.
Alongside the health of the planet, Boomerangz also took the health of the foot into consideration when creating its thongs.
Consulting podiatrists during the design phase, Boomerangz Thongs and Slides feature arch support for stability and balance as well as a non-slip sole.
Boomerangz offers men's and women's thongs that are available on its website from $29.95.