Nothing says summer like flip-flops!
Here are 5 Friday Facts About Flip Flops to think about as you slip on those easy to wear sandals.
Here in Texas, flip flops are mostly a year-around footwear.
Grammatically, it's supposed to be flip-flop, but I've always written flip flop so I'll use that and be grammatically incorrect.
In case you think flip flops are a modern day invention, think again. There's a lot of history behind this casual shoe. You can find a version of flip flops in Egypt around 4,000 B.C.
Still in the ancient world, you can find another version in the Roman world where the strap went around the second toe instead of the big toe. Move over to Mesopotamia and find their version where the strap went around the third toe.
5 Friday Facts About Flip Flops
(1) The modern flip flop as we know it was popularized in the U.S.A. by World War II soldiers who brought this sandal back from Japan where it was called zori. When I lived in Japan, it was common to see zori, made of rice straw, on everyone. In fact, there was a cotton "sock" sold that was like a glove with a space for big toe and the larger space for the other toes. Perfectly designed for wearing with zori.
The more casual zori is the geta, made of wood but built up about an inch with 2 wooden pieces running across the bottom of the shoe.
These were made for wearing in rainy or muddy conditions. They're heavy and not easy to walk in. At least they weren't easy for me.
(2) The 1960s was the era when flip flops became a unisex summer standard sandal.
They were associated with the beach lifestyle of California and were recommended to be worn with swimsuits, shorts, and sun dresses.
(3) The name flip flops, used in the U.S. and U.K., comes from the 1960s when someone who remains nameless called them that because of the sound they make as one walks in them.
(4) In 2006, sales of flip flops exceeded those of sneakers for the first time. Considering the low cost of flip flops and the high cost of sneakers, this is amazing.
In 2009, Flip Flop Shops, an Atlanta-based company said that the sandals were responsible for a $20 billion industry.
Created by Chipkos, an eco-friendly company, they were square shaped with a hand-painted 18-karat gold design.
They're part of the company's environmental program, Stand for Square Feet, with money from the sale of these flip flops going toward the protection of 100,000 square feet of endangered rainforest habitat in Costa Rica.
Takeaway Truth
National Flip Flop Day is the 3rd Friday in June. Mark your calendar for next year.
You probably can't celebrate by purchasing the square feet flip flop, but maybe you can donate to a local environmental program.
Click here to SIGN UP for my free NL!
You'll be the first to know about new books, giveaways, and bargains.
Visit me Online:
Photograph Credits
(1) Japanese Wooden Geta, Image by Miguel Á. Padriñán from Pixabay.
(2) Flip Flop Shoes, Image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay.
(3) Sign Life is Better in Flip Flops, Image by Michael Schwarzenberger from Pixabay.
No comments:
Post a Comment