Tuesday, January 15, 2013

The Origin of the Shoe

A little history lesson is fun, especially when it is about something as popular as shoes! Whether you are a shoe fanatic or someone who sticks with a favorite style everyday, knowing how far shoes have come will give you a fresh appreciation for them.

Few people in early cultures actually had full shoes. Sandals were the option of choice until around 1200 B.C. when a moccasin-type shoe came on the scene. Around 1850, most shoes were made with a straight last, or sole, making the right shoe no different from the left. The shoestring, believe it or not, wasn’t invented until 1790 in England. Buckles were used up until that point to keep shoes closed.

Leather soles became a bother because they wore out too fast and rubber soles appeared in the late 1800s. In 1917, the first “sneaker” was made available and the kind may surprise you – it was the Keds canvas top sneaker. An advertising agent named Henry Nelson McKinney coined the phrase “sneaker” because the rubber soles made the shoes very quiet to walk in versus the more squeaky leather ones.

Shoes have evolved greatly over time but some popular fashions today stem from styles of the past. Our platforms mirror the 16th century “chopines” which were high shoes designed to keep feet off dirty streets.

Whatever kind of shoe suits your fancy, Dr. Jeff Bowman of Houston Foot Specialists in Houston, TX always advises his patients of the importance of good, supportive shoes. Ill-fitting shoes can lead to numerous foot problems and injuries. If your shoes have already done some damage, have your feet treated promptly. You can make an appointment by calling our podiatric office at (713) 467-8886 or find us online at www.houstonfootspecialists.com.
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