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47-611: Narciso Delladio started his business by manufacturing boots and clogs for farmers and lumberjacks. In World War II , he helped to provide Italy's soldiers with custom mountaineering boots . In the 1950s, he began to make ski boots and first introduced the brand name of La Sportiva. In January 2024, it opened its first store in Boulder, Colorado. La Sportiva is a brand of footwear for mountaineering , climbing and skiing . Its products are distributed in Europe and North America . La Sportiva

94-565: A carefully placed ease (space left around the foot), which allows the foot to bend, and the heel to lift within or out of the clog. Thick, springy wool socks provide flexibility in the fit. The use and prevalence of wooden footwear in prehistoric and ancient times is uncertain, owing both to the ambiguity of surviving records and the difficulty of both preserving and recognizing its remains. Used clogs also tended to be repurposed as firewood . Some ancient Greeks apparently wore kroúpezai ( κρούπεζαι ) made of wood. These were known to

141-408: A clog as a "thick piece of wood", and later as a "wooden soled overshoe" and a "shoe with a thick wooden sole". Welsh traditional clog maker Trefor Owen identified three main varieties of clogs: wooden upper, wooden soled and overshoes. These divisions are not fixed: some overshoes look more like whole foot clogs, like Spanish albarca , whilst other wooden soled clogs raise and protect clothing in

188-501: A decline in the footwear industry. While about 27,000 firms were in business in 2005, only 21,700 remained in 2009. Not only have these firms decreased in number, but direct employment has also reduced within the sector. In the U.S., the annual footwear industry revenue was $ 48 billion in 2012. In 2015, there were about 29,000 shoe stores in the U.S. and the shoe industry employed about 189,000 people. Due to rising imports, these numbers are also declining. The only way of staying afloat in

235-545: A sign of respect towards someone of higher standing. Similarly, deliberately forcing other people to go barefoot while being shod oneself has been used to clearly showcase and convey one's superiority within a setting of power disparity. Practitioners of the craft of shoemaking are called shoemakers, cobblers, or cordwainers . Footwear has been used by humans since prehistoric times , with paleoclimatology suggesting that they would have been needed in some areas of human settlement by at least 50,000   years ago during

282-422: A solid surface, it creates a two-dimensional impression. These types of impressions can be made with a variety of substances, like dirt and sand. When footwear removes material from a soft surface, it creates a three-dimensional impression. These types of impressions can be made in a variety of soft substances, like snow and dirt. Two-dimensional impressions also differ from three-dimensional impressions because

329-412: Is known for its footwear designed for outdoor sports like climbing, running, hiking, and skiing. The company's product line includes specialized equipment for a variety of terrain, including technical rock faces. It sponsors athletes across a number of sports including mountain running, rock climbing, ice climbing, alpine climbing and skiing. La Sportiva had previously collaborated with Tommy Caldwell in

376-499: Is usually made of leather or plastic , and rubber . In fact, leather was one of the original materials used for the first versions of a shoe. The soles can be made of rubber or plastic, sometimes with the addition of a sheet of metal on the inside. Roman sandals had sheets of metal on their soles so that they would not bend out of shape. In more recent times, footwear suppliers such as Nike have begun to source environmentally friendly materials. In Europe, recent decades have seen

423-673: The American South was an exception. Its demand for masses of low-quality shoes for its slaves was met by workshops around Boston , Philadelphia , and New York , a dependence that later hobbled the Confederate Army during the Civil War and was responsible in legend for the decisive Battle of Gettysburg . Amid the Industrial Revolution , John Adam Dagyr's introduction of assembly line production and tight quality control to

470-597: The British Army amid the Napoleonic Wars —failed commercially as soon as the wars were over because the demobilized soldiers reduced the price of manual labor. John Brooks Nichols 's 1850 adaptation of Howe and Singer 's sewing machines to handle binding uppers to soles and the Surinamese immigrant Jan Ernst Matzeliger 's 1880 invention of an automatic lasting machine finally allowed true industrialization, taking

517-530: The Diocletianic Persecution . In medieval Europe , leather shoes and boots became more common. At first most were simply pieces of leather sewn together and then held tight around the foot with a toggle or drawstring. This developed into the turnshoe , where the sole and upper were sewn together and then turned inside-out to hide and protect the seam and improve water resistance. From the reign of Charlemagne , Byzantine fashions began to influence

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564-742: The Last Glacial Period . Osteologists have found evidence of the effect of footwear on human remains by around 40,000   years ago. The oldest shoes so far recovered were found by a team under Luther Cressman in Fort Rock Cave , Oregon, US, in 1938. They had been preserved under the Mazama Ash deposited c.  5025 BC during the volcanic eruption that formed Crater Lake . In 1999, they were dated to around 10,500– 9,300 BP . Egyptian butchers sometimes wore platform sandals with thicker soles than usual to raise their feet out of

611-555: The Marshall Plan after World War II , Italy became the major shoe exporting country in the 1950s. It was joined in the 1960s by Japan , which offshored its production to Taiwan , South Korea , and Hong Kong as its own labor became too expensive. In their turn, the Hong Kong manufacturers began moving production to Guangdong in mainland China almost immediately after the establishment of Deng Xiaoping 's Opening Up Policy in

658-608: The Romans as sculponeae . Both the Greeks and Romans also made sandals by attaching leather straps to wooden soles in various ways. The ancient Chinese wore wooden jī ( 屐 ) by at least the Han dynasty , when a form decorated with colorful ribbons and designs was used by women on their wedding days . Under the Jin , a different style shaped the entire shoe from a single piece of wood and, after

705-682: The Tang , the southern Chinese wore "boot clogs" ( 靴 屐 , xuējī ). The oldest wooden footwear so far recovered in Europe was found at Amsterdam and Rotterdam in the Netherlands . These date from c.  1230 and c.  1280 and looked very similar to the wooden shoes still worn in the area. By about this era, wooden pattens were being used as overshoes to protect the wearer's hose and indoor shoes when walking outside, particularly in inclement weather. Some shoes then began directly incorporating

752-656: The following civil war , contributing to disease and desertion , particularly among the Nationalists . Following the world wars, the increasing importance of professional sports greatly popularized a variety of athletic shoes , particularly sneakers . Major brands such as Converse , Adidas , and Nike used celebrity endorsements from Chuck Taylor , Michael Jordan , Lionel Messi , and others to promote their products. Fashion houses periodically prompted new trends in women's and high-end fashion. In particular, while working for Christian Dior , Roger Vivier popularized

799-400: The imperial period , however, as the emperors appropriated more and more symbols of high status for themselves. The Romans were the earliest people currently known to have shaped their right and left shoes distinctly during creation, rather than pulling them tight and allowing them to wear into shape. The Catholic patron saints of shoemaking— Crispin and Crispinian —were martyred during

846-414: The large dresses of the era . Shoe fetishism was first publicized in the work of Nicolas-Edme Rétif in prerevolutionary France . 17th-century Cavalier boots developed into upper-class fashion and into sailing boots prized by fishermen and pirates before being replaced as military gear by the 18th-century Hessian and 19th-century Wellington boot . In Ming and Qing China , foot binding led to

893-504: The stiletto heel in 1954. (Men's dress shoes have tended to retain 19th-century British looks such as the Oxford shoe and loafers .) Various subcultures have employed distinctive footwear as part of their identity, including winklepickers , Doc Martens , and skate shoes . The international trade in footwear was at first chiefly restricted to American exports to Europe and Europe's exports to its various colonial empires . Assisted by

940-462: The working class , some types are considered fashion wear today, such as Swedish träskor or Japanese geta . Clogs are also used in several different styles of dance , where an important feature is the sound they produce against the floor. Clog dancing is one of the fundamental roots of tap dancing , but with tap shoes the taps are free to click against each other and produce a different sound from clogs. The Oxford English Dictionary defines

987-461: The "ten-footer" workshops in Lynn, Massachusetts , US, around 1760 is sometimes credited as the first shoe factory . However, although mechanized textile mills greatly reduced the price of proper socks , each step of the shoemaking process still needed to be done by hand in a slowly optimized putting-out system . The first mechanized systems—developed by Marc Isambard Brunel in 1810 to supply boots to

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1034-423: The 1533 marriage of the 14-year-old Florentine Catherine de Medici to Prince Henry of France , both male and female royalty and nobles began wearing high heels , giving rise to the expression "well heeled". This was done sometimes for display or appearance and sometimes as an aid to riding in stirrups . For the most part, male footwear was more ornate and expensive because women's feet were usually covered by

1081-534: The chopines directly to the nalins worn in Ottoman baths and whose height was considered to be a marker of status.) By the early modern period , the development of better socks and less stiff hose allowed European footwear to become firmer and more durable. Welting was developed, using a narrow band of leather between the uppers and sole to improve appearance and comfort, increase water resistance, and simplify repair, particularly resoling worn shoes. Beginning with

1128-454: The development of lotus shoes for Han women and then flowerpot shoes for the Manchu women who wanted to emulate the characteristic walk of women with bound feet without undergoing the process themselves. In Africa , North America , and Spanish and Portuguese South America , slave codes often mandated slaves should be barefoot at all times without exception. Following its independence ,

1175-538: The development of plimsolls , deck shoes , rubber boots , galoshes , and waders . The prevalence of trench foot in World War I focused attention on the importance of providing of adequate footwear in following conflicts, although this was not always possible. Millions of Chinese soldiers in both the NRA and PLA were obliged to use straw and rope shoes to allow easy replacement on long marches during both World War II and

1222-818: The development of the TC Pro climbing shoe. This was the shoe that Caldwell used while making his ascent of the Dawn Wall and by Alex Honnold for the Free Solo of El Capitan. Clogs Clogs are a type of footwear that has a thick, rigid sole typically made of wood , although in American English , shoes with rigid soles made of other materials are also called clogs. Traditional clogs remain in use as protective footwear in agriculture and in some factories and mines . Although they are sometimes negatively associated with cheap and folkloric footwear of farmers and

1269-518: The different types of clog, their design, origin and manufacture. In the 1970s and 1980s, Swedish clogs became popular fashion accessories for both sexes. They were usually worn without socks and were considered suitable attire for the avant-garde man. In the 1980s and 1990s, clogs based on Swedish clogs returned in fashion for women. Platform clogs or sandals, often raised as high as 6 or even 8 inches right through between sole and insole, were worn in many western countries. The large mid layer

1316-510: The early 1980s. Competitors were soon forced to follow suit, including removal of Taiwanese and Korean production to Fujian and to Wenzhou in southern Zhejiang . Similarly, amid Perestroika and the Fall of Communism , Italy dismantled its domestic industry, outsourcing its work to Eastern Europe , which proved less dependable than the Chinese and further eroded their market share. Beginning around

1363-617: The feet, which typically serve the purpose of protection against adversities of the environment such as wear from rough ground; stability on slippery ground; and temperature. Cultures have different customs regarding footwear. These include not using any in some situations, usually bearing a symbolic meaning. This can however also be imposed on specific individuals to place them at a practical disadvantage against shod people, if they are excluded from having footwear available or are prohibited from using any. This usually takes place in situations of captivity, such as imprisonment or slavery , where

1410-405: The front edge of the front "feet". Some Japanese and Indian clogs have "teeth" or very high pegs attached to the soles. The clog can rotate around the front edge of the front "tooth" as the wearer strides forward. Some medieval pattens were in two pieces, heel through to ball and ball to toes. Joining the two was a leather strip forming a hinge, thus allowing the shoe above to flex. Klompen may have

1457-513: The gallery below. Presented below are typical clogs from the countries where they are found. Like many folk items, the boundaries of manufacture and use are regional and therefore do not always exactly follow those of modern states. So, in some countries two or more different types can be found. It is also possible that one type can be found in bordering countries. For example, Danish, German, Dutch, Belgian and clogs from Northwest France look quite similar. The links provide access to pages dealing with

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1504-447: The gore. Wealthier Egyptians also sometimes wore platforms. The Greeks distinguished a great variety of footwear, particularly different styles of sandals . The heeled cothurnus was part of the standard costume for tragedians , and the effeminate soccus for comedians . Going barefoot , however, was frequently lauded: Spartan boys undergoing military training, Socrates , and Olympic athletes all went without shoes most of

1551-459: The groups are among other things distinctly divided by whether or not footwear is being worn. In some cultures, people remove their shoes before entering a home. Bare feet are also seen as a sign of humility and respect, and adherents of many religions worship or mourn while barefoot. Some religious communities explicitly require people to remove shoes before they enter holy buildings, such as temples. In several cultures people remove their shoes as

1598-512: The industry: "edgesetter", "heel trimmer", " McKay machine operator". Many were replaced by cheaper immigrants ; the Czech Tomáš Baťa joined these workers at Lynn in 1904 and then returned to his own factory in Zlín , Moravia, mechanizing and rationalizing its production while guiding the factory town that developed into a garden city . By the early 20th century, vulcanization had led to

1645-424: The productivity of individual workers from 20 or 50 pairs a day to as many as 700, halving prices, and briefly making Lynn the center of world shoe production. As late as 1865, most men in the industry identified in the census and city directory as general purpose "cordwainers" or "shoemakers"; by 1890, they were almost universally described as "shoe workers" or—more often—by the specific name of their work within

1692-447: The prominently pointed shoe or boot now known as the calceus repandus . The Romans saw clothing and footwear as unmistakable signs of power and status in society . Patricians typically wore dyed and ornamented shoes of tanned leather with their togas or armor , while plebeians wore rawhide or hobnail boots and slaves were usually required to be barefoot . These class distinctions in footwear seem to have lessened during

1739-408: The same time, several mendicant orders began practicing discalceation as an aspect of their vows of humility and poverty , going entirely barefoot at all times or only wearing sandals in any weather. From the 1480s, the poulaine was replaced by the duckbill , which had a flat front but soon became impractically wide. The stiff hose of the era usually required fairly soft footwear, which in turn

1786-592: The shoe market is to establish a presence in niche markets. To ensure high quality and safety of footwear , manufacturers have to make sure all products comply to existing and relevant standards. By producing footwear in accordance with national and international regulations, potential risks can be minimized and the interest of both textile manufacturers and consumers can be protected. The following standards/regulations apply to footwear products: Footwear can create two types of impressions: two-dimensional and three-dimensional impressions. When footwear places material onto

1833-434: The so-called Swedish clogs (wooden bottom and leather top) is still seen as a trendy fashion item, often as ladies' high-heeled boots. Nevertheless, traditional wooden footwear is still popular in several regions in Europe and in some occupations, for its practical use. Some historic local variations have recently been replaced by uniform national models. More information on the various methods of manufacture can be found from

1880-652: The time. Similarly, ancient China considered footwear an important aspect of civilization—particularly embroidered slippers —but often depicted Taoist immortals and gods like Xuanwu barefoot. The Book of Exodus records Moses reverentially removing his shoes at Mount Sinai and the priests likewise went barefoot at the Temple of Solomon before Babylonian customs prevailed and entering houses of worship in footwear became common in Judaism and Christianity . The Etruscans experienced several footwear trends, including

1927-451: The top of the foot. Some sandal types, and in particular toe peg styles, are worn more like " flip-flops " and rely on the grip between the big and next toe. As they are primarily made from wood, clogs cannot flex under the ball of the foot as softer shoes do. To allow the foot to roll forward most clogs have the bottom of the toe curved up, known as the cast. Some styles of clogs have "feet", such as Spanish albarca . The clog rotates around

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1974-406: The way that overshoes do, such as Japanese geta . The type of upper determines how the clogs are worn. Whole foot clogs need to be close fitting and can be secured by curling the toes. In contrast wooden soled clogs are fastened by laces or buckles on the welt and therefore the toes are relaxed as in shoes. Half open clogs may either be secured like whole foot clogs, or have an additional strap over

2021-477: The west and the pontificalia of the popes and other bishops began to feature greater luxury, including embroidered silk and velvet slippers . By the High Middle Ages , fashion trends periodically prompted sumptuary taxes or regulations and church condemnation for vanity . The 12th-century pigache and 14th- and 15th-century poulaine had elongated toes, often stuffed to maintain their shape. Around

2068-513: The wooden platform into their soles, like the Venetian chopines . Since wooden footwear was a hand-made product, the shape of the footwear, as well as its production process showed great local and regional diversity in style. At the beginning of the 20th century machine-made wooden footwear was introduced. After WW2 , in particular, wooden shoes became uncommon. They were replaced by more fashionable all-leather and synthetic footwear. At present, only

2115-475: The year 2000, China has constantly produced more than half of the world's shoes. As of 2021, footwear is the 30th most traded category internationally; but, while China produces well over 60% of exported footwear, it currently earns less than 36% of the value of the total trade owing to the continuing importance of American, German, and other brands in the North American and European markets. Modern footwear

2162-461: Was easier to damage in the dirt and muck of the street and outdoors. This led many people to use wooden-soled calopedes , pattens , or galoshes , overshoes that served as a platform while walking. Particularly in Venice , these platforms were combined with the shoe to make chopines , sometimes so awkwardly high that the wearer required servants to help support them. ( Turkish sources, meanwhile, credit

2209-529: Was often made of solid cork, although some were merely of plastic with a cork covering. The sole, more often than not, was made of a light sandy-colored rubber. In 2007, Dutch designers Viktor & Rolf introduced high heeled Dutch clogs on the catwalk, with their winter collection of 2007/08. In 2010, Swedish clogs for women returned again in Chanel's and Louis Vuitton's Spring / Summer 2010 collection. Footwear Footwear refers to garments worn on

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