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Womens Flipflops: How They Became a Fashion Trend

The market for womens flipflops has grown tremendously during the last two years. These sandals are now the most favorite casual footwear of women consumers around the world. The colorful designs and the comfort that they provide are just two of the reasons why millions of women are donning these sandals.

Womens flipflops didn’t start as a fashion footwear. During the 1930s, these sandals were used by people in developing countries as home-based footwear and by farmers and other workers involved in hard labor. Most flip-flops during the early years were made from simple rubber; and some were even crafted from used rubber tires.

The footwear became a fashion trend in the United States and Europe when people roaming the beach or walking by the pool started wearing them to protect their feet from the sand or the hot tiles of the swimming pool. Teenagers and young adults caught on with the fashion craze and started donning flip-flops as casual footwear; even wearing them outside beach areas and swimming pools. After these sandals became fashionable, several models that were made from leather, transparent plastic and wood came out; replacing the old, low-quality rubber worn by people in developing areas.

The wearing of flip-flops became more popular among women partly because most of the designs offered commercially are flowery or candy-like stripes. Pink, orange, green and other happy-colored versions of these sandals can now be seen in shoe shops and fashion stores. Since the colors and the designs are more appropriate for women, the market for flip-flops became more dependent on women consumers. Although plain brown or black versions are also available for men, it is the women who favor these sandals more than anyone else.

Another reason for the popularity of this footwear among women consumers is its shape. The V-shaped straps are attached to the base on both sides of the foot and the apex is at the space between the big toe and the fourth toe. The bare, strappy design fits women’s smaller (in comparison with men) and narrower shaped feet. In short, the sandals make the female feet look sexy and feminine.

The popularity of womens flipflops has elevated this footwear from being a worker’s sandals to a fashion craze favored mostly by female consumers. Commercially offered models range in prices from $29 to $300; some brands even offer models that are close to a thousand dollars. Despite the escalating price, the sandals remain a favorite among consumers and there is no knowing when their love for these thongs will end.