History of the Shoe

• Facts and Figures

• • 8000bc
  • The first shoes were utilitarian - used as a protection from the elements and from sharp rocks and burning sand.
• • 3000bc
  • In Egypt, The first sandals were basically made from a footprint in wet sand. Braided papyrus was then molded into the sole prints and then they were attached to the foot by palm fiber by way of the thong. Sandals were eventually made from leather. These shoes were not made to accommodate right and left fittings.
• • 1234bc
  • In ancient Egypt, the sandal was a sign of power and rank, as they were considered a luxury and not everyone could afford good ones. They were made from fabric or soft leather. Gold and jeweled sandals were for the king and his court, pastels for dignitaries with red and yellow allowed for the middle class. The poor and the slaves went barefoot.
• • 400bc
  • The Greeks excelled at shoemaking and shoe and sandal making attained a high degree of sophistication and people's obsession with footwear accelerated to a point where social "rules" came into play regarding them. Certain shoes were for certain occupations. Soldiers wore a certain type, brides-to-be wore another, priests another, actors another; each type designated and accounted for.
• • 500
  • A new innovation in shoe making takes place. Turned shoes were sewn inside out then turned right side out, something never thought of prior.
• • 1150
  • Poulaine shoes began to appear in western Europe in the 12 century. Rumor has it that they were developed and popularized by Count Fuld of Anjou who needed to cover up some kind of deformity. It is more likely a style adopted by the Crusaders who were influenced by the traditional pointed toed footwear found in the near/middle east.
• • 1460
  • Duck's Bill shoes were made of silk, brocade or velvet and were heavily padded, puffed and embroidered with the upper part slashed so that colored hose showed through. Colored hose for men was popular and a slashed shoe was the ideal way to display it.
  • None of the shoes of the day were good for snow, muck or the average dirty street. Another type of shoe was developed called the Patten. Pattens were shoes to be worn over other shoes which raised the feet up. They consisted of a very thick sole made of wood or leather with leather straps that you stuck your feet into.
• • 1500
  • Slimmer shaped shoes eventually replaced the broad Duck's Bill - first to a low cut style called escaffignins which were not quite so wide but puffed at the toes and then the heelless eschapins which were also slashed.
  • The chopine was a type of over shoe with a raised platform sole meant to be worn over other shoes to give the wearer height. Similar to other shoe fashions, they fell prey to exaggeration whereas the soles got higher and higher until some were up to thirty inches. Women wore them, often requiring a maid or cane to help them walk. The church approved of Chopines. Chopines impeded movement and movement was required for such sin producing activities such as dancing. And if you can't move, you can't dance. They were eventually outlawed in Venice after a number of women miscarried after falling off their shoes.
• • 1550
  • During the latter half of the century, wealthy men started to wear shoes with tapered toes, keeping the slashing and pinking but with the added decoration of ribbon rosettes.
• • 1600
  • Boots became fashionable at the English court during Charles I's reign. Due to the probability that he had rickets as a child, Charles couldn't walk without use of supports, thus a shoemaker designed boots to hide them. Charles could later walk without these supports but by the time he became king, boots had become the style. Everyone wore boots. All classes and sorts. Indoors and out and for every type of occasion.
• • 1650
  • Later in the century, shoes and stockings became very important when the tailored coat and breeches came into fashion for the focus shifted to the lower body. Suddenly it was all about the shapely legs and men wanted to wear flattering fanciful hose and shoes to accentuate them.
  • Louis XIV also had a thing for high heels with red soles and heels - so everyone wore high heels with red soles and heels. Boots went completely out of style in favor of these new elegant heels now elaborately decorated with ribbons, rosettes or buckles.
• • 1660
  • Women began to pay more attention to their shoes and no longer wanted the same shape as men's. A variety of exquisitely embroidered shoes in silk, satin and velvet appeared trimmed with lace which fell in a deep flounce over the foot. Slippers had heels often measuring six inches made of colored satin to match the costume.
• • 1700
  • Shoes were usually black, medium heeled and pointed and prominently displayed a big shiny silver or gold buckle.
• • 1735
  • High heels were quite popular, along with rich brocades, embroidered silks and painted leathers. Large showy buckles topped them off along with metallic braid in silver and gold which could be transferred from one shoe to the next.
• • 1800
  • Comfort had become a priority. No more squashing toes into rigid up turned points. Slippers had pointed toes but they were made of soft materials and came in romantic pastels.
  • Men's shoes become steadfast and conservative and basically stay that way for centuries to come. Black becomes basically the only color for shoes. The laced up shoe which can still be seen today became popular at the beginning of the century and has been with us ever since.
• • 1860
  • Shoes hardened up because they were always hidden under a dress, so there wasn't much attention paid to them. The boot, the clog and the dress slipper were the main shoes types for women. The boot became the everyday wear, durable and practical but took a long time to break in.
• • 1900
  • Women's legs were never really shown and feet were only glimpsed once in a while when sitting down so fancy shoes weren't high up on the fashion must haves. Boots remained the standard women's wear.
  • Men's shoes basically remained the same with little variation. Colors expanded a bit to include brown and gray - and toes came in a variety of styles including pointed, rounded and ovals.
• • 1910
  • During this decade women believed that narrow feet were a sign of good breeding and gentility. Both men and women took to wearing shoes that were a full size too small and some women even had their little toes removed.
• • 1917
  • In 1908, Marquis Mills Converse opened the Converse Rubber Shoe Co. The company released the first of its signature canvas sneakers in 1917. Sneakers were being produced by small rubber companies who specialized in the production of bicycle tires. Other companies, including B.F. Goodrich and Spalding were producing tennis shoes.
• • 1920
  • Women's shoes became lighter and finer with a pointed toe and the addition of straps. Bar shoes became popular as they didn't fall off y our foot while dancing. T-straps were popular too for the same reason.
  • For men, Black patent-leather shoes were popular during this era and often appeared with formal evening wear. Two-tone shoes in white and tan, or white and black were also popular. Oxfords and brogues were seen frequently. Lace-up style shoes were most in demand.
• • 1930
  • The Great Depression. Boots were typically worn by laborers and the loafer made its first appearance.
• • 1942
  • Manufacturing focused primarily on war goods and restrictions were imposed on fabrics and other materials putting a dent in. When leather became restricted for military use, every imaginable material was incorporated for shoes with reptile skins and mesh as the most successful substitutes.
• • 1947
  • Dr. Klaus Martens designed a shoe for his injured ankle. He decided he wanted to sell them, but didn't have much luck until he met up with an old university friend. His friend was intrigued by the new shoe design, and the two went into business that year, using discarded rubber from Luftwaffe airfields. The comfortable and durable soles were a big hit with housewives, with 80% of sales in the first decade going to women over the age of 40. Today we call them Dr. Martens.
• • 1960
  • New Balance made the world's first running shoe made with a ripple sole - the "Trackster". It was also the first running shoe to come in varying widths.
• • 1966
  • The opening of the first Vans store was inauspicious. Vans offered three styles, priced from $2.49 to $4.99, but on the day the store opened for business, the company had only made display models. The store racks were filled with empty boxes. Nevertheless, 12 customers came into the store and chose the colors and styles they wanted. The customers were asked to come back in the afternoon, while their orders were rushed to the factory to make their shoes. When the customers returned to pick up the shoes, Vans realized that they had neglected to have money available to make change. The customers were given the shoes and asked to return the next day to pay for them. All 12 customers did.
• • 1972
  • The first Nike shoe was the 1972 Nike Moon Shoe. Brand founder used his wife's waffle iron to mold the sole of the shoe for better traction. The Nike Moon shoe was given to track and field athletes including Steve Prefontaine. As the first basketball shoe with a swoosh, the Nike Blazer marked Nike's entry into the basketball shoe market.
• • 1979
  • Nike's Air technology patented by inventor M. Frank Rudy is introduced in the Tailwind running shoe. Gas-filled plastic membranes are inserted into the sole of running shoes to provide cushioning.
• • 1985
  • Nike landed one of the greatest endorsements of all time with rookie basketball player Michael Jordan. The company designed a red and black sneaker for the star, but the shoe was banned by the NBA because it violated color rules. Jordan wore them anyway, racking up $5,000 in fines per game. The publicity that followed scored Nike a major hit: By May of 1985, the company had sold and received orders for $70 million worth of Jordans, and overall company revenues jumped 37%.
• • 1989
  • Reebok released their Reebok Pump shoe. It was the first shoe to have an internal inflation mechanism that regulated a unique fitting cushion in the upper tongue.
• • 1993
  • Skechers was originally founded to distribute Dr. Martens and other footwear. In 1993 they began designing their own brand of shoes.
  • L.A. Gear begins manufacturing L.A. Lights - the first shoes with LED lights in the heels that light up when the wearer steps.
• • 2005
  • Adidas released the Adidas 1, the first smart shoe. A sensor in the heel determined how much weight the runner compresses in each step taken, and a motorized cable system adjusts the shoe cushioning. It was discontinued within 1 year after numerous complaints of malfunction.
• • 2006
  • Nike + iPod sports kit released. It consists of a small accelerometer attached to or embedded in a shoe, which communicates with either the Nike+ Sportband, a receiver plugged into an iPod nano, or directly with a 2nd or 3rd Generation iPod Touch, iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4. It tracks your distance, and pace, among other things. There is also an online community built around the technology.
• • 2010 and beyond
  • Nike has filed a patent for a self-lacing shoe that resembles the sneakers from "Back to the Future 2". According to the patent, "the automatic lacing system provides a set of straps that can be automatically opened and closed. The shoe further includes an automatic ankle cinching system. The system requires a power source, so the shoe will have an on-board battery.