5 Interesting Facts About Flip-Flops
What are the best sandals for walking? Many people around the world will say flip-flops.
This type of sandal is the go-to footwear during the summer months — and, for some people, all year round. Its popularity likely comes from the fact that they’re easy to wear and have models are every price point, from one-dollar pairs to designer flip-flops. There’s even a National Flip-Flop Day held on the third Friday of June.
While flip-flops are very popular, most people don’t know the history behind this type of sandal or even why it’s so commonplace. Below are some facts about flip-flops you might not know.
1) Flip-Flops Got Their Name Through Onomatopeia
The sandal design has been around for centuries, as we will discuss later on, but the term “flip-flops” has only been around since the 1950s or the 1960s.
The name describes the clapping sound that’s produced when the sandal slaps against the heel of your feet when you’re walking. This is called onomatopeia — the process of naming something by using a word that phonetically resembles the sound that it describes or the sound of the object being named.
However, not everyone in the world calls these best sandals for walking flip-flops. In Australia, they’re called thongs. In New Zealand, they’re called jandals. Even in the U.S., there are special names for them depending on the region. The East Coast can call them zories. In Texas, they’re called clam diggers. In Hawaii, they’re simply called slippers.
2) Flip-Flops Are the Footwear of Our Ancestors
Although the name originated in the U.S. because of the way the sandals sounded on feet, flip-flops go way back in time. Experts believe that flip-flops have been around for more than 5,000 years. Ancient Egyptian murals from 4,000 B.C. show that flip-flops were worn around that time.
Egyptian flip-flops were made from reeds and papyrus. In comparison, Early African flip-flops were crafted from animal hides. In Asia, early Indian flip-flops were wooden, and Chinese and Japanese flip-flops were made using rice straw.
3) Flip-Flops Became Trendy in the U.S. During the Post-War Era
Why did flip-flops become so popular in America? It started in the late 1940s. After World War II, U.S. soldiers brought back pairs of Japanese zori made from rice straw as souvenirs from where they’d come from. Zori are traditionally worn by Japanese children when they’re learning how to walk but everyone in the U.S. loved them — children and adults.
By the 1950s, U.S. manufacturers started making their version of zori — using rubber instead of straw and making pairs in many different colors. In the next twenty years, the type of footwear became a nationwide fashion trend. Because rubber is more flexible and durable than straw, they’ve become useful beyond going to the beach or the pool. You can wear them anywhere.
4) Our Ancestors May Have Worn Flip-Flops Differently
Any typical person these days known how to wear flip-flops. The strap or thong goes between the first and second toes. You don’t even have to think about how to wear flip-flops as it feels like your feet know exactly where to go while putting them on.
However, this wasn’t always the case. As uncomfortable as it sounds, in ancient Rome and Mesopotamia, flip-flops used to be worn with the strap between the second and third toes. It was the ancient Greeks that started wearing flip-flops the way we do today. The flip-flops of ancient Greece are the most closely aligned with modern flip-flops than any other type of ancient footwear.
5) Experts Believe That Flip-Flops Aren’t Good for Your Feet
While you might think that flip-flops are the best sandals for walking, foot doctors and other experts will warn you that you shouldn’t use them for long. Many of them will say that flip-flops are some of the most dangerous types of footwear available on the market.
Flip-flops don’t provide ankle support. This can lead to problems like plantar fasciitis, tendonitis, and overpronation — as well other critical issues in the heel and arch of the foot.
The habit of wearing flip-flops can also cause bone problems like bone spurs, and can even alter the way you walk — encouraging shorter strides and toes crunching to hang on to the straps on the sandal. While flip-flops are a summer staple and can feel comfortable daily, using them all the time with that altered gait in your walk can cause severe back, foot, hip, and knee injuries.
Resources— Everyday Health, Wonderopolis
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