Fashion Inspiration for Footwear from Ancient Times

When it comes to drawing inspiration for fashion, our ancestors are a great source. The intricacies of

prehistoric fashion and creativity of the ancient Greeks, Romans, Asians and Africans are reflected in the

clothing, footwear and accessories worn today and will never cease to influence us and the future

generations too. History of footwear dates back to 10,000 years ago- the oldest shoes (which were

made of rope) were discovered in a region which is now the state of Oregon in the US.

Footwear like gladiators, mules, clogs and moccasins belong to prehistoric times but are worn

extensively today and are very popular. While some of them have evolved with the changing times to

accommodate the latest fads in footwear fashion, some have been left relatively unchanged (example-

women’s clog sandals).

Dutch Klompen, French Sabots, Japanese Geta, Swedish Traskor, German Pattens, all had one thing in

common- they were made of wood, partially or completely. The soldiers of World War I wore Sabotines, which were a rudimentary version of today’s combat boots which were made of leather and wood.

Clog sandals for women and men were heavy duty protective footwear that were worn by agricultural

workers, steel factory workers and fishermen. They protected the feet from mud, marshy grounds,

sharp objects and the unforgiving weather conditions. They were unisex footwear and were made by

hand in the pre-industrialization period. Following the advent of machines, clogs were manufactured on

a massive scale by machines that were operated by humans. Industrialization led to the growth of popularity of synthetic materials like rubber clogs over the wooden ones.

In the 1960s, women’s clog sandals (the wooden version) resurfaced in the continents of Europe and

North America and have never gone out of focus since then. In the earlier times, clogs were limited to

the classic design which was characterized by a wooden footbed with a raised heel and black or brown

cattle hide which covered the front part (from the toes to the middle part of the feet) , and left the heel

exposed. Today, women’s clog sandals have adjustable straps and buckles and are available in all the

colors.

Clogs are not just a fashion statement now, but are a solution for orthopedic issues as well. The wooden

footbed is known for the support it provides to the feet’s arch, heel and spine. It can improve the posture of the wearer’s body.

From the old folkloric version to the present one, women’s clog sandals have come a long away. One

thing that remains unchanged about them is the fact that they will always top the charts among all

footwear styles when it comes to combining style, comfort and functionality.