One Stop Shop
Shoes
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One Stop Shop |
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Shoes |
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Information on Shoes: A shoe is an item of footwear evolved at first to protect the human foot and later, additionally, as an item of decoration in itself. The foot contains more bones than any other single part of the body, and has evolved over hundreds of thousands of years in relation to vastly varied terrain and climatic conditions. Together with the proprioceptive system, it is what makes balance and ambulation possible. Until recent years, shoes were not worn by most of the world's population—largely because they could not afford them. Only with the advent of mass production, making available for the first time the cheap flip-flop-type sandal, for example, has shoe-wearing become predominant. The design of shoes has varied enormously through time, and from culture to culture, with appearance originally being tied to function. Additionally fashion has often dictated whether shoes have, for example, very high heels or no heels at all. Contemporary footwear varies in style, complexity and cost, from the most basic sandal, via high fashion shoes for women sometimes costing thousands of dollars a pair, to complex boots specially designed for mountaineering or skiing. Shoes have traditionally been made from leather, wood or canvas, but are increasingly made from rubber, plastics, and other petrochemical-derived materials. History Ancient Greek pair of terracotta boots. Early geometric period cremation
burial of a woman, 900 BCE, Ancient Agora Museum, Athens The earliest known shoes date from about 8000 to 7000 BCE and were
found in Oregon, USA in 1938.[1] However, tanned leather, the material
most commonly used for making shoes, does not normally last for thousands
of years, so shoes were probably in use long before this. Physical
anthropologist Erik Trinkaus believes he has found evidence that the
use of shoes began in the period between about 40,000 and 26,000 years
ago, based on the fact that the thickness of the bones of the toes
(other than the big toe) decreased during this period, on the premise
that wearing shoes resulted in less bone growth (shorter, thinner toes.)[2][3] The earliest designs were simple affairs, often mere "foot bags" of leather to protect the feet from rocks, debris, and cold. Since shoes use more leather than sandals, their use was more common in cold climates. By the Middle Ages, turn-shoes had been developed with toggled flaps or drawstrings to tighten the leather around the foot for a better fit. As Europe gained in wealth and power, fancy shoes became status symbols. Toes became long and pointed, often to ridiculous proportions. Artisans created unique footwear for rich patrons, and new styles developed. Eventually the modern shoe, with a sewn-on sole, was devised. Since the 17th century, most leather shoes have used a sewn-on sole. This remains the standard for finer-quality dress shoes today. Until around 1800, shoes were made without differentiation for the left or right foot. We now call such shoes, "straights". Only gradually did the modern foot-specific shoe become standard. Since the mid-20th Century, advances in rubber, plastics, synthetic
cloth, and industrial adhesives have allowed manufacturers to create
shoes that stray considerably from traditional crafting techniques.
Leather, which had been the primary material in earlier styles, has
remained standard in expensive dress shoes, but athletic shoes often
have little or no real leather. Soles, which were once laboriously
hand-stitched on, are now more often machined stitched or simply glued
on. The bottom of a shoe is called the sole. The insole is the interior bottom of a shoe, which sits directly beneath
the foot. Many shoes have removable and replaceable insoles, and extra
insoles are often added for comfort (to control the shape, moisture,
or smell of the shoe) or health reasons (to help deal with defects
in the natural shape of the foot or positioning of the foot during
standing or walking). The outsole is the layer in direct contact with the ground. Dress
shoes have leather outsoles; casual or work-oriented shoes have outsoles
made of natural rubber or a synthetic imitation. The outsole may comprise
a single piece, or may comprise separate pieces of different materials.
Often the heel of the sole is rubber for durability and traction, while
the front is leather for style. Specialized shoes will often have modifications
on this design: athletic cleats have spikes embedded in the outsole
to grip the ground; many kinds of dancing shoes have much softer or
harder soles. The layer in between the outsole and the insole that is typically
there for shock absorption. Some types of shoes, like running shoes,
have another material for shock absorption, usually beneath the heel
where one puts the most pressure down. Different companies use different
materials for the midsoles of their shoes. Some shoes may not have
a midsole at all. The bottom rear part of a shoe is the heel. Its function is to support
the heel of the foot. They are often made of the same material as the
sole of the shoe. This part can be high for fashion or to make the
person look taller, or flat for a more practical use. Any shoe has an upper part that helps hold the shoe onto the foot.
In the simplest cases, such as sandals or flip-flops, this may be nothing
more than a few straps for holding the sole in place. Closed footwear,
such as boots, sneakers and most men's shoes, will have a more complex
upper. This part is often decorated or is made in a certain style to
look attractive. The outside part of the shoe is referred to as the lateral and the
inside facing part of the shoe is the medial. This can be in reference
to either the outsole or the vamp. * Shoehorn: can be used to insert a foot into a shoe by keeping the
shoe open and providing a smooth surface for the foot to slide upon. Types Dress shoes are categorized by smooth and supple leather uppers, leather soles, and narrow sleek figure. Casual shoes are characterized by sturdy leather uppers, non-leather outsoles, and wide profile. Some designs of dress shoes can be worn by either gender. The majority
of dress shoes have an upper covering, commonly made of leather, enclosing
most of the lower foot, but not covering the ankles. This upper part
of the shoe is often made without apertures or openings, but may also
be made with openings or even itself consist of a series of straps,
e.g. an open toe featured in women's shoes. Shoes with uppers made
high to cover the ankles are also available; a shoe with the upper
rising above the ankle is usually considered a boot but certain styles
may be referred to as high-topped shoes or high-tops. Usually, a high-topped
shoe is secured by laces or zippers, although some styles have elastic
inserts to ease slipping the shoe on. Men's shoes can be categorized by how they are closed: * Oxfords (also referred as "Balmorals"): the vamp has
a V-shaped slit to which the laces are attached; also known as "closed
lacing". The word "Oxford" is sometimes used by American
clothing companies to market shoes that are not Balmorals, such as
Blüchers. Men's shoes can also be decorated in various ways: * Plain-toes: have a sleek appearance and no extra decorations on
the vamp. Women's There is a large variety of shoes available for women, in addition to most of the men's styles being more accepted as unisex. Some broad categories are: High-heeled footwear may be shoes with heels 2 inches (5 cm) or higher. They are often seen as having more sex appeal than low heels (see article for discussion) and are thus commonly worn by women for formal occasions or social outings. Kitten heels are low high heels from about 1.5 to 2 inches high, set in from the back of the shoe. * Sneaker boot and sneaker pump: a shoe that looks like an athletic shoe, but is equipped with a heel, making it a kind of novelty dress shoe. * Wedge Sandals are sandals but have the ankles higher as if wearing a high heels shoe. * Mules are shoes or slippers with no fitting around the heel (i.e. they are backless) * Slingbacks are shoes which are secured by a strap behind the heel, rather than over the top of the foot. * Espadrilles are casual flat or high-heeled fashion sandals of a style which originated in the Pyrenees. They usually have a cotton or canvas upper and a flexible sole of rope or rubber. * Pumps, known in the UK as ballerinas, ballet pumps or skimmers, are shoes with a very low heel and a relatively short vamp, exposing much of the instep. They are popular for warm-weather wear, and may be seen as more comfortable than shoes with a higher heel. In the US a pump is a high-heeled typically slip-on women's dress shoe. Unisex * Clog Athletic Men's and women's athletic shoes and special function shoes often have less difference between the sexes than in dress shoes. In many cases these shoes can be worn by either sex. Emphasis tends to be more on function than style. * Running shoes: very similar to above, with additional emphasis
on cushioning. Orthopedic Orthopedic or "comfort" shoes are made with pedorthic and
anatomically-correct comfort qualities, such as padded removable footbeds,
wide toe boxes and arch support are made especially for those with
problematic feet. * Pointe shoes are designed for ballet dancing. These have a toe
box that is stiffened with glue and a hardened sole so the dancer can
stand on the tips of their toes. They are secured by elastic straps
and ribbons that are tied to the dancer's ankles. Work Work shoes are designed to stand heavy wear, to protect the wearer,
and provide high traction. They are generally made from sturdy leather
uppers and non-leather outsoles. Sometimes they are used for uniforms
or comfort by nurses, waitresses, police, military personnel, etc.
They are commonly used for protection in industrial settings, construction,
mining, and other workplaces. Protective features may include steel-tipped
toes and soles or ankle guards. Footwear has been worn for tens of thousands of years. Shoes of the past include: * Turn-shoes: a method by which the shoe is constructed inside-out,
wetted, and turned — the finished side of the leather flipped
to the outside. Such footwear was common from the Middle-ages until
modern shoes was developed in the Tudor era. Because of their construction,
turn-shoes cannot simply be re-soled, unlike most modern shoe types. Maintenance * Breaking-in: Some shoes are made of hard but deformable material.
After a person wears them multiple times, the material reforms to fit
the wearer's feet. The person is said to have broken in the shoes. Someone who makes or repairs shoes in a shop is called a cobbler. In most parts of the world (Asia, Eastern Europe, parts of the Middle East and Africa, much of Northern Europe and Canada, as well as Alaska) it is customary to remove shoes when entering a house. In some areas of the United States, especially the Midwest, it is expected that visitors remove their shoes unless a host specifically invites them to leave their shoes on[citation needed]. People do this to avoid bringing dirt, mud or snow into the house. In some cultures, including those in Asia, indoor footwear may be provided for guests. In the Middle East, parts of Africa, Korea and Thailand, it is considered
rude to show the soles of the feet to others (even accidentally, such
as by crossing the legs). Shoe throwing is a great insult in some areas
in the Middle East and in India.[5] In addition, in Thailand, it is
an extreme insult for the foot, socks, or shoes to touch someone's
head or be placed over it. Shoes play an important role in the fairy tales Cinderella, The Wonderful
Wizard of Oz and The Red Shoes. In literature and film, an empty shoe
or a pair of shoes signifies death.[citation needed] * Units for shoe sizes vary widely around the world. European sizes are measured in Paris Points, which are worth two-thirds of a centimetre. The UK and American units are approximately one-quarter of an inch, starting at 8¼ inches. Men's and women's shoe sizes often have different scales. Shoes size is often measured using a Brannock Device, which can determine both the width and length of the foot. The Wikipedia article on this page is released under CC-BY-SA. |
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