Footwear

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Footwear consists of garments worn on the feet, for fashion, protection against the environment, and adornment. Being barefoot is commonly associated with poverty, but some cultures chose not to wear footwear at least in some situations.

Socks and other hosiery are usually worn between the feet and other footwear, less often with sandals and flip flops (thongs). Footwear is sometimes associated with fetishism, particularly in some fashions in shoes, including boots.

Durable shoes are a relatively recent invention, though many ancient civilizations wore ornamental footwear. Many ancient civilizations saw no need for footwear. The Romans saw clothing and footwear as signs of power and status in society, and most Romans wore footwear, while slaves and peasants remained barefoot.[1] The Middle Ages saw the rise of high-heeled shoes, also associated with power, and the desire to look larger than life, and artwork often depicted someone barefoot as a symbol of poverty. Bare feet are also seen as a sign of humility and respect, and adherents of many religions worship or mourn barefoot, or remove their shoes as a sign of respect towards someone of higher standing.

In some cultures, it is customary for people to remove their shoes before entering a home, and some religious communities require shoes to be removed before entering a building which they regard as holy, such as a temple.

Practitioners of the craft of shoemaking are called shoemakers, cobblers or cordwainers.

History

See also: Barefoot
Ancient Olympic discus thrower
Neolithic decoration

The oldest confirmed footwear was discovered in Fort Rock Cave in the U.S. state of Oregon; radiocarbon dating of these sandals woven from sagebrush bark indicates an age of least 10,000 years. However footprints of what looks like ancient sandals have been carbon dated to around the time 500,000 BC.[2]

Many people in ancient times, such as the Egyptians, Hindu and Greeks, saw little need for footwear, and most of the time were barefoot. The Egyptians and Hindus at times wore ornamental footwear, such as a soleless sandal known as a "Cleopatra", which did not provide any practical protection for the feet. The ancient Greeks largely viewed footwear as self-indulgent, unaesthetic and unnecessary. Shoes were primarily worn in the theatre, as a means of increasing stature, and many preferred to go barefoot.[3] Athletes in the Ancient Olympic Games participated barefoot — and naked.[4] Even the Gods and heroes were primarily depicted barefoot, and the hoplite warriors fought battles in bare feet and Alexander the Great conquered half of the ancient world with barefoot armies.

The Romans, who eventually conquered the Greeks, and adopted many aspects of their culture, did not adopt the Greek perception of footwear and clothing. Roman clothing was seen as a sign of power, and footwear was seen as a necessity of living in a civilized world, although the slaves and paupers usually went barefoot.[3] There are many references to shoes being worn in the Bible. During weddings of this period, a father would give his son-in-law a pair of shoes, to symbolize the transfer of authority.[5]

During the Middle Ages, both men and women wore pattens, commonly seen as the predecessor of the modern high-heeled shoe,[6] while the poor and lower classes in Europe, as well as slaves in the New World, were barefoot.[3] In the 15th century, chopines were created in Turkey, and were usually 7-8 inches (17.7-20.3 cm) high. These shoes became popular in Venice and throughout Europe, as a status symbol revealing wealth and social standing.

During the 16th century, royalty started wearing high-heeled shoes to make them look taller or larger than life, such as Catherine de Medici or Mary I of England. By 1580, men also wore them, and a person with authority or wealth was often referred to as, "well-heeled".[6] In modern society, high-heeled shoes are a part of women's fashion, perhaps more as a sexual prop.

Materials

Components

Types

Shoes made from real crocodile skin, in a conservation exhibit at Bristol Zoo, England

Footwear industry

In Europe, the footwear industry has declined in the last years. While in 2005, there were about 27.000 firms, in 2008 there were only 24.000. As well as the number of firms, the direct employment has decreased. The only factors that remained almost steady was the value added at factor cost and production value.[7]

In the U.S., the annual footwear industry revenue was $48 billion in 2012. There are about 29.000 shoe stores in the U.S. and the shoe industry employs about 189.000 people. [8] Due to rising imports, these numbers are also declining. The only way of staying afloat in the shoe market is to establish a presence in niche markets.[9]

Safety of footwear products

To ensure high quality and safety of footwear, manufacturers have to make sure all products comply to existing and relevant standards. By producing footwear in accordance with national and international regulations, potential risks can be minimized and the interest of both textile manufacturers and consumers can be protected. The following standards/regulations apply to footwear products:


See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Footwear.

References

  1. ^ Margo DeMello (1 September 2009). Feet and footwear: a cultural encyclopedia. Macmillan. pp. 65–. ISBN 978-0-313-35714-5. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
  2. ^ Robbins, William G. (2005). Oregon: This Storied Land. Oregon Historical Society Press. ISBN [[Special:BookSources/09875952860|09875952860[[Category:Articles with invalid ISBNs]]]]. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help)
  3. ^ a b c Frazine, Richard Keith (1993). The Barefoot Hiker. Ten Speed Press. p. 98. ISBN 0-89815-525-8.
  4. ^ "Unearthing the First Olympics". NPR. July 19, 2004. Retrieved July 1, 2010.
  5. ^ "77 Interesting Facts About Weddings". Random History. Retrieved July 1, 2010. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  6. ^ a b "Dangerous Elegance: A History of High-Heeled Shoes". Random History. Retrieved July 1, 2010. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  7. ^ Footwear industry statistics Europe
  8. ^ Footwear industry statistics U.S.
  9. ^ Shoe & Footwear Manufacturing in the US: Market Research Report
  10. ^ ASTM Standards for Footwear
  11. ^ ISO standards for Footwear
  12. ^ AAFA restricted substances list. Available Online. Accessed on May 9, 2012.

External links

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