Shoes have become an important part of our daily lives. Shoes were originally designed to protect our feet from cold weather, sharp objects, and uncomfortable surfaces. The earliest version of the shoe is believed to be a sandal in some form. As man’s knowledge of tools and leather work grew, so did the sophistication and quality of the average shoe. Shoes are shaped by the physical and economic environment of their surroundings. For example, the ancient Egyptians wore flip-flops woven from straw, while the Dutch wore carved wooden shoes to protect their feet from the wet, marshy ground they worked on.
Over time, shoes have become an integral part of daily life. Shoes have gone from being a luxury item to an item of necessity. Fashion also played a role in the evolution of footwear. The human psyche yearns for an individual and unique identity. The nobility and the upper classes saw in the shoes an opportunity to fulfill this desire. The shoes became more and more extravagant. Fabrics, velvets and tapestries began to be used. This was the birth of the shoe industry as we know it today. Today shoes are classified according to their use. There are casual and dress, work, sports and corrective.
All the shoes fall into the casual category due to their features. The differentiating factor is the purpose of the shoe. Casual shoes are designed and thought to convey an attitude of relaxation and informality. Casual shoe design has evolved over time. Today’s casual shoes resemble formal dress shoes in many ways. The distinguishing factor is the color of the shoe. Casual shoes range from flip flops to sneakers to boots. The materials used in the manufacture range from leather, canvas and rubber to modern petrochemical derivatives such as plastics and xylenes.
Formal dress shoes come in two varieties: lace-up and slip-on. They are traditionally made of leather and are often expensive. The use of plastics and modern manufacturing methods has lowered prices. The upper classes still prefer leather to what they consider to be cheap plastic. Women’s dress shoes can be a variant of pumps or sandals. The style of the clothes decides the category of the shoe in the case of women. Unisex shoes are a new product in the footwear market.
Athletic shoes are specialized shoes designed and created to allow better performance in a particular sporting activity. Sports or athletic shoes are worn in a number of sports such as football, basketball, cricket, and track and field events. Climbing shoes are also a type of specialized footwear unsuitable for any other sports and even walking due to their design. It usually occurs at the base of a climb. Basketball and tennis shoes have rubber soles to allow a better grip on their respective courts. Sports like football, soccer, baseball, and hockey use shoes with metal spikes in the sole to provide better grip for quick starts and stops. Hiking or trail boots are designed to support the ankle to prevent injuries and give a good grip on rocky surfaces.
