The Many Uses of Flipflops
In earlier times, flipflops were considered more a practical apparel rather than a fashion footwear. They are mostly worn by people, both men and women, when they are in their homes or after they have taken off their shoes. This footwear is a flat, backless sandal that has a V-shaped strap passing between the toes and around each side of the foot. The strap is attached to the simple sole in three points.
In most developing countries, flipflops are actually the cheapest manufactured footwear; with people wearing them for everyday activities at home and in places where shoes are not required. Before it became a fashion trend, this footwear is not categorized as shoes in the formal sense of the word. They are just materials that serve as alternative to going barefoot.
This footwear derived its name from the slapping noise that it makes everytime it hits the pavement. It is commonly used as an outdoor or beach footwear in countries like Australia, New Zealand and in most areas of East Asia. In other countries, the footwear is used by farm workers, construction employees and other individuals involved in heavy, manual work. The use of these sandals varies from country to country and can be made from different materials depending on the location.
According to some studies, flip-flops were inspired by the woven soled Japanese sandals called zori. The first to use these sandals as beachwear were the people of New Zealand during the 1930s. American soldiers actually brought this footwear to the U.S. after they have been to Japan and seen locals wearing these sandals. Years later, some units of the European and North American military encouraged the use of these sandals as sanitary footwear in military showers to prevent the spread of fungal infections.
After being used as a hard labor footwear and a military choice of shower sandals, this apparel adopted a more stylish design developed by Maurice Yock in Auckland, New Zealand. The modern designs were eventually patented in 1957; and now, it has become one of the most favored casual fashion footwear in developed countries.
The use of flipflops as a fashion apparel has considerably grown during the last two years. Trendy designs and flashy colors now adorn these sandals which used to be made from materials that were as simple as abandoned rubber tires.
