Shoes are part of our daily lives. While we all love our shoes and shopping for the season's new styles is so much fun, to some extent we take our shoes and socks for granted. Here are seven fun facts about shoes that might surprise you!
1. Doc Martens were originally German housewife shoes.
Before becoming fashion icons, those rebellious Docs were originally the choice of housewives.
Dr. Martens was originally popular among elderly housewives in Germany in the 1950s for its soft cushioning insoles. When founder Märtens began exporting to the UK and partnered with British company Griggs, they became more like the boots we know today. However, they were still popular first among those who worked on their feet and needed comfort, such as factory workers and postal workers.
2. There is a record of "fastest 100 meters wearing high heels"
Both divas and heroines seem to be able to rock high heels with ease. The rest of us usually need some practice first. Denmark's Majken Sichlau won the title for running the world's fastest 100 meters in high heels. To win the title of women's world champion, she ran 100 meters in 13.557 seconds. Wow, that was so fast. She achieved this on May 2, 2015, during the Tarnby Games in Copenhagen, Denmark.
3. Shoes were not differentiated between left and right until the 1800s.
Right and left shoes were not made until 1817 in Philadelphia by a man named William Young. Prior to this, both pairs of shoes were identical and obviously far less comfortable. It's safe to say that this is a great invention.
4. The term "sneaker" came about because of the quiet rubber soles
In 1887, the Boston Journal first referred to shoes as "sneakers." The newly invented rubber soles were quiet, allowing wearers to "sneak" closer to others.
5. Shoelaces don't always have straps at the end
Sure you know how to make bunny ears, but do you know where shoelaces come from and what that little plastic thing at the end of the shoelaces is called? It's called a shoulder strap. It is usually plastic or metal and was popularized in 1790 by a British inventor named Harvey Kennedy. It helps prevent laces from fraying and makes it easier to fit through small holes in your shoes.
Shoe laces have been used for centuries, long before Harvey Kennedy officially invented and patented shoe laces. Laces on medieval footwear date back to the 12th century.
6. The world's oldest shoe is 5,500 years old
Well, it all starts with how you define shoes. In 1938, archaeologists discovered rope sandals in Oregon from about 8,000 B.C. They were made from sagebrush bark, and archaeologists found several pairs in caves in Oregon.
The oldest known shoe, made of leather with a closed toe, was discovered again in 2008 in a cave in Armenia. It's called the Areni-1 shoe, and despite being about 5,500 years old, it was found to be in surprisingly good condition. It is the oldest known leather shoe in the world, although researchers believe footwear existed before that. It's just that these materials break down over time.
Don't throw away those old sneakers just yet, they might become museum pieces one day.
7. The original socks were made of animal skins and hair
Socks were originally made from animal skins or tangled animal hair. It makes you really appreciate those soft fleeces you love so much, doesn't it?