Justine DiFilippo
It’s time to put away your flip-flops. That’s right, fall is here and now we are back to wearing regular shoes.
Flip-flops are very common among people today, especially among college students. You often see and hear them going to and coming from classes. However, what many don’t know is the how the flip-flop originated. Let me give you a little background on those fascinating sandals.
Invented in Japan, flip-flops are known as Zori. They are a very traditional type of Japanese footwear. Originally Zori were designed so that they were easy to slip on and off. In the Japanese culture the footwear is always removed before entering a house. They can either have a thick sole or a thin sole with a V-shaped thong that comes between the big toe and the rest of the foot, so the sandal stays in place. Traditionally Zori are made of straw. The sole is often made of “tatami” style woven straw. Today, flip-flops are still made of straw, but more commonly made of rubber with plastic or nylon straps.
They give your feet that extra space so they can breathe while conservative shoes make your feet cramped, trap moisture into your shoe and leave your feet with very unhealthy conditions and sometimes sore. Some agree that Zori, or flip-flops, are the most versatile, convenient, and comfortable shoes around.
People love the ease of flip-flops, whether it be slipping them on to run to the store, going outside to get the mail or the newspaper, or even taking a leisurely walk. I think they serve an important purpose of relieving pressure on your feet and toes. After a long winter, I look forward to getting out my flip-flops every spring. It makes me happy and keeps my toes happy too. Even though we still might see some out, it is time to put them away for the winter. Come spring we will be seeing all the new styles and our feet will thank us, yet again.
