Friction is exactly right. These are mostly leather with the exception of the sole tread. The mic on the headphones also works with it! I liked them until I wore them for about 3 hours, which is easy to do if your stuck inside & watching YouTube, but they really hurt my ears. I only wore them in the office so it was not as if I had been using them in a rough environment. Super cute for homely feet! ” But, overall, this works like I want. The main fabric material is really durable yet breathable. Comes with a little screwdriver and Allen wrench to assemble, which takes a few minutes. I love a good warm slipper and no matter how much I shower or bathe Ive always ended up with stinky slippers owing to my feet naturally sweating in the warmth.