For many of us when we see a sign on the high street saying ‘flip-flops sandal on the market’ we take a quick detour, keen to see what ‘this’ seasons color or finish will be available in our beloved flip-flops. There at the moment are so many colours, metallic finishes, wedges, platforms and patterns available, that for many people, flip-flops are ‘the’ shoe of the summer season and with them being comparatively inexpensive, we can’t get enough of them!
However the place do these type of sandals come from and how and when did they turned so popular? Below I’ve listed some interesting facts about flip-flops that you simply never knew!
They’re the oldest form of footwear. There are images from rock paintings of prehistoric man wearing a type of toe thong!
There’s evidence of these form of sandals as an item of footwear in most civilisations. The humorous thing although is that different civilisations typically used different toes for the thong…The Greeks, for instance, made use of the big toe; the Romans, the second toe; and the Mesapotanians, the third toe!
They have been known as Flip Flaps till the 1960’s.
In America, they first started to seem after World War II as soldiers introduced Japanese ‘zori’ (their word for flip-flops) back from the war, as souvenirs.
They became widespread within the US after the Korean War of the 1950’s and have been made out of low-cost rubber that caused horrible blisters!
As in style culture took hold, they had been made out of better rubber supplies and became available in shiny colours. They had been seen as ‘the’ footwear for a relaxed life-style near the beach. Later they were adopted by hippies.
As an affordable item of footwear, kids soon started to wear them to the pool and on holiday in bright colors with flowers and motifs adorning them.
Within the 1990’s with a more relaxed environment in the workplace, flip-flops and their variations turned acceptable. Now there could be variations in soling and upper materials, with platform soles and soles that declare to tone your leg and bum muscles. These are all cashing in on the oldest type of footwear.
Sales figures are hard to return by, but it is estimated that international flip-flop sales top $20 billion, that is more than the trainer / sneaker market!
The prolonged use of cheaper variations has been linked to all kinds of foot health problems. Wearing soft rubber versions that offer some inner arch help and have shock absorbing qualities are far better for the foot.
So, now you know among the key facts about these special sandals! They have an awesome history from humble beginnings to changing into a worldwide fashion accessory. However, be sure not to let fashion dictate your choices completely. Low cost model can cause damage to your ft so make sure to find sandals made from good quality materials and with well designed soles and support. In this way the success of the flip-flop will proceed for a few years in who knows what form..!
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