Origin and History of Flip-Flops

As we all know, Flip-flops are a form of casual wear sandals that consist of a flat sole with a Y-shaped strap that passes between the toes and around both sides of the foot. These originated and were typically worn by Ancient Egyptians in 1500 B.C. and by people of many cultures throughout the world. After World War II, it became more popular unisex summer footwear starting in the 1960s.

Since the 1960’s the term flip-flops has been used widely in American and British English, describing the thong or no-heel-strap sandal, an onomatopoeia of the sound made by the sandals when walking in them. They are called thongs in Australia, jandals in Japan, and slops in South Africa in the Philippines. In India, flip-flops are commonly known as hawaichappal. In Japan, people wear traditional straw sandals, similarly designed to flip-flops, known as zori.

History

Being featured in many different ancient Egyptian artworks, all the way back to 4,000 B.C. Flip-flops' early version was created using basic tools. A pair that was found by researchers in Europe was about 1500 years old and was joined together with papyrus leaves. Ancient Egyptians created their sandals using only papyrus and palm leaves, while Africans used rawhide. Different types of materials were used in Asian countries. In India, the flip-flops were made of wood. Rice straw was used by Chinese and Japanese people. Earlier, the Ancient Greeks had used the most modern form of the flip-flop by creating straps which were worn between the first and second toes, while many different countries craft flip-flops with straps between the second and third, or third and fourth toes.

Flip-Flop of Modern Age

The modern flip-flops gained popularity in the US after World War II, as the American soldiers brought Japanese zori with them. The sandals were redesigned and modified into bright colours that dominated 1950s design. Due to their convenience and comfort, they were promoted primarily as a casual accessory, typically worn with shorts, bathing suits, or summer dresses, and were popular in beach-themed stores and as summer shoes during the 1960s.

In 1962, Alpargatas introduced flip-flops named Havaianas in Brazil. In 2010, more than 150 million pairs of these Havaianas were produced every year and were fashionably adopted by the youth, mostly decorated with unique materials like charms, chains, and beads. High-end flip-flops made up of sophisticated and synthetic materials were worn instead of sneakers or loafers.

In 2011, President of the United States Barack Obama was photographed wearing a pair of flip-flops. The Dalai Lama has also been a frequent user of flip-flops and has met several U.S. presidents, including George W. Bush and Barack Obama, while wearing flip-flops.

Simple, Casual & Cost-Effective Footwear.

Now, most of the flip-flops do not have a strap around the heel, although varieties with heels are available. They are also designed for sports with added support similar to athletic shoes, with a thong between the toes, since foot health is crucial for athletes. Flip-flops are inexpensive and cost as little as $10 or less in the majority of countries throughout the world.

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Made from a variety of materials, such as rubber, foam, plastic, leather, suede, and even fabric. However, the Flip Flop Shops reported that the sales were $20 billion in 2009. These shoes are comfortable, cheap, and effective footwear, which is no wonder they are so popular.