Story By: John Feng, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Asia Wire Report

Video Credit: AsiaWire

Social media users are divided on this pair of controversial fish-shaped sandals seen in a crowded train car which has the wearer’s toes jutting out of the animal’s gaping mouths.

The apparently unwelcome fashion trend was spotted on the underground in the city of Hefei, capital of Anhui Province in East China, but an online retailer has suggested the footwear is more popular than people think.

The video secretly filmed by a commuter inside the train shows the wearer sitting on the far end of the car.

The bizarre-looking pair of bright green rubber sandals made in the shape of fish stand out among the other footwear inside the train.

The male owner’s toes are clearly visible inside the fish’s mouth – but that is apparently by design.

Images from e-commerce website AliExpress shows the same sandals selling for just under 17 GBP.

The models wearing the fish on their feet also have their toes pointing out the animals’ wide-open mouths.

Fish are seen as auspicious symbols in Chinese culture, representing wealth and abundance.

An unnamed woman who supplies the sandals online told local media: “We designed these shoes to be special. The design is novel and a little strange – and it sells very well.

“We sell more than 2,000 pairs a month. People even buy them in winter, but we sell the most in summer.

“People love taking them to the beach because the themes match.”

Social media user ‘Qidashi’ wrote: “Has creativity finally gone too far? It is certainly a style!”

‘XiaoU Aichi Dangao’ added: “I think that’s quite interesting.”

‘Huisui Qingchang’ said: “Those feet must smell particularly bad.”

‘Kingson33’ commented: “I’ve been wearing these for years!”

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