Earth shoe
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Earth shoes (also known as Kalso Earth Shoes) were an unconventional style of shoe invented in the 1970s in Scandinavia by Danish shoe designer Anna Kalsø.[1] Unlike most other shoes, the soles were thick and the heels were thin (Negative Heel Technology), so wearing them one walked heel-downward.
The shoes were introduced in the United States in New York City on April 1, 1970.
The shoes surged in popularity and were prominently featured on the Johnny Carson Show and TIME Magazine. Unable to keep up with demand, franchise owners pursued litigation against the United States distributor of Kalso Earth Shoes, and the brand discontinued being sold at retail by the late 1970's.
A new firm with the same name is now in existence, and has recently introduced shoes with negative heels in a variety of styles ranging from sandals to running shoes.
In 2001, Kalso Earth Shoes re-surfaced as the rights to the name, technology and branded properties was purchased by Meynard Designs, Inc.
Today, Kalso Earth Shoes with "negative heels" include a range of styles from sandals to walking shoes.
The company also sells separate branded lines of footwear without the "negative heel -- "Earth Footwear" and "Earthies."
[edit] References
- ^ Bathroom Reader's Institute (1999). Uncle John's Legendary Lost Bathroom Reader. Bathroom Readers' Press. p. 374.
[edit] External links
- Earth shoes, Official US website
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