The History of Flip-Flops ~ Women Shoes Advisory

The History of Flip-Flops

It would be difficult to walk down the street in warm weather--and sometimes not so warm--without finding a person sporting a pair of flip-flops. Love them or hate them, one cannot deny their popularity in our modern world. Yet flip-flops are not a recent phenomenon. In fact, they are some of the oldest--and most global--footwear known to man.

Evidence suggests that the prototype of the flip-flop existed as far back as the Stone Age. We know for certain that they were wardrobe staples just about everywhere in the ancient world. Early sandals were made of papyrus, straw, rawhide and other materials, depending on the region. The construction was more or less the same: a base with a strap attached, worn in-between the toes.

Several centuries later, the bag of an American soldier returning home after World War II may have contained a pair of Zori, or traditional Japanese sandals. By the 1950s, a rendition of the Zori, made out of rubber, graced the feet of American beach and pool goers in a variety of styles. Although they were stylish and convenient, no one dared to wear them anywhere else.

It would not be until the 1960s when the ubiquitous sound the wearer of this sandal made while walking would become a household name. Christened "flip-flops" in the continental United States, they also went by the name "thongs" in Australia and "slippers" in Hawaii. By 1962, the Brazilian company Havaianas contributed to its popularity by producing and promoting a flip-flop for everyday wear. Competitors were quick to copy their style, leading the company to claim that they had produced "the real ones."

People began to embrace the inherent versatility of the flip-flop by the 1990s. No longer confined to the beach and pool, flip-flops became street wear, school wear and even office wear. People not only wore flip-flops to be casual, but to dress up as well. Designer versions made of wood, leather and other quality materials appeared on the market, with price tags well above those of their polyurethane counterparts.

According to PecheBlu, a retailer of the sandal, flip-flops are a $2 billion a year industry in the United States. That is not to say that the flip-flop lacks for critics. The American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons links the rise in foot problems amongst young adults to the flip-flop. Others lament that allowing flip-flops in the office promotes an informality not conducive to a work environment. Nevertheless, with thousands of years behind it, it is highly unlikely that the flip-flop will meet its demise anytime soon.

Flip-flop (electronics) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flip-flop_(electronics)
In electronics, a flip-flop or latch is a circuit that has two stable states and can be used to store state information. A flip-flop is a bistable multivibrator. The ...
Flip-flops - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flip_flops
Flip-flops (also called zri, thongs, jandals, "go-aheads", or a variety of other names throughout the world) are a type of open-toed sandal typically worn in casual ...
The Story Behind Flip Flops
www.stylelist.com/view/the-story-behind-flip-flops
It's one of the most basic items in your closet, but it has a long history. The name "flip flop" comes specifically from the sound the sandals make when they slap ...
The Buy a Lot of Things Blog - wholesale flip flops, wholesale ...
www.buyalotofthings.com/blog
wholesale flip flops, wholesale sandals, flip flops in bulk, flip flops wholesale, wholesale womens shoes
Arlington: The Rap - YouTube
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T1RMuoQnKo
Available Now on iTunes! I moved to a new town a couple weeks ago. Clarendon. It's pretty tough. Thank you to BJ and Q for their co-starring roles once ...
The History Of Flip Flops - Return Of Kings - For masculine men
www.returnofkings.com/1250/the-history-of-flip-flops
For masculine men ... The History Of Flip Flops. By Roosh. Heres a history nugget you wont learn anyone else (received via email)
History of Flip Flops
www.pecheblu.com/history.php
THE HISTORY OF FLIP FLOPS . ANCIENT TIMES The use of the word flip-flop for thong sandals is a modern term dating from the 1960s that describes what is probably ...
The Flip Flops
www.combatflipflops.com/The-Flip-Flops
Combat Flip Flops - Bad for running. Worse for fighting.
The History of Havaianas Portuguese Language Blog
blogs.transparent.com/portuguese/the-history-of-havaianas
Havaianas, the Brazilian flip flop brand popular worldwide, has an interesting history, so let's take a look. In 1962, the So Paulo Alpargatas company began
The Truth About The Shoes Of Summer, Sandals, Flip Flops And
www.huffingtonpost.com/steve-rosenberg/the-truth-about-the-shoes_b...
Jul 25, 2012 Summer shoes: Ballet flats, flip flops, platform wedges and high heel, wedge, casual and dress sandals in the summer are a welcomed relief. Summer time ...
Colombians: The Pursuit of Hygiene Banana Skin Flip Flops
bananaskinflipflops.com/2013/05/06/colombians-the-pursuit-of-hygiene
A life in Colombia ... The other day I was in the cinema, watching a British movie, when the camera showed a close-up of an actress dropping a pill into a glass of water.
How to choose the size and measure shoes, flip-flops, boots ...
www.size-chart-shoe-clothing-international-sizing-conversion.com
shoe sizes, size, sizing, shoes, flip-flops, boots, trainers, heels, formal, sandals, mules, clogs, slippers, espadrilles, runners, international, chart
Mitt Romney on Abortion - OnTheIssues.org - Candidates on the
www.ontheissues.org/Governor/Mitt_Romney_Abortion.htm
Tired of media reports of fundraising and poll results instead of policy issues? At OnTheIssues.org, you can see the view of every candidate on every issue.
Our History - TEVA Water Shoes, Flip Flops, Sandals &
www.teva.com/Our-History/history,default,pg.html
In 1984, a young Grand Canyon river guide revolutionized the footwear industry when he created the world's first sports sandal. This idea soon spawned a brand, and ...
John Whyte, M.D., MPH: Flip Flops: Do They Hurt Your Feet?
www.huffingtonpost.com/john-whyte-md-mph/flip-flops-hurt-feet-_b...
Apr 06, 2011 Spring is upon us, and with it the time to strap on some fun, stylish flip-flops and start enjoying the season's beauty. So run to the local drug store ...
Obama's presidential first - photographed in flip-flops on ...
www.nypost.com/p/news/national/that_quite_first_flip_flop_feet...
Scooting around Hawaii last week, President Obama broke one more historic barrier by setting a new benchmark for the limits of presidential casual wear.
Oracle CEO Larry Ellison Bashes 'Cloud Computing' Hype - YouTube
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOEFXaWHppE
Complete video at: http://fora.tv/2009/09/21/Oracle_CEO_... Oracle CEO Larry Ellison mocks the "cloud computing" hype that has smitten the "nitwits on Sand ...
The History of High Heels Lovelyish
fashion.lovelyish.com/2010/04/10/the-history-of-high-heels
High heels are definitely one of the most important items in any girls wardrobe. A good pair can make any woman feel elegant, slender and very glamorous.
Obama supports gay marriage: Shep Smith warns GOP not to be
news.yahoo.com/blogs/cutline/obama-supports-gay-marriage-shep...
May 09, 2012 Moments after ABC revealed that President Obama said during a taped interview with "Good Morning America" that he supports gay marriage, Fox News'
Rainbow Sandals
www.rainbowsandals.comSale Items Find R a I N B O W S
Manufacturer of beach sandals for men and women. Offers an online catalogue and outlet store.
FlipFlopStyle.com
www.flipflopstyle.com
All flip flops. All the time. ... Laughter is good for the soul. I was reminded of this fact last weekend while out celebrating yet another 39th birthday with some ...
Obama Says To Look At "Videotape" For His Flip-Flops - BuzzFeed
www.buzzfeed.com/andrewkaczynski/obama-says-to-look-at-videotape...
The President hit Mitt Romney for flip-flopping today on the campaign trail in Iowa saying you can look at videotape of his past positions and not see flip-flops. The ...
SandalWorld.com: One of the Largest Selections of Sandals in the
www.sandalworld.com
Easily find the perfect sandals for you at low prices. Women's sandal brands including; Bernardo, Mystique, Yellow Box, Matisse, Lily Pulitzer, Jack Rogers, Pierre ...