History Of Footwear By Yudhi Jain

 

HISTORY OF FOOTWEAR

 

Who invented the shoe?

• At the time, no machine could attach the upper part of a shoe to the sole.
• This has to be done manually by a "Hand Later".
• After five years of works, J.E Matzeliger, obtained a patent for his invention in 1883.

 

                                          

                                                                           J.E Matzeliger

    

 

 

Oldest shoes in history (0068BC)

 

                                               Oetzi Shoes

                                               

To date these are the oldest crafted shoes ever found. They were crafted around the shape of the feet and stuffed with dried grass for warmth and comfort. These primitive footwear from our early ancestors were made of deerskin, bearskin and was stuffed with hay

 

Silk Road Shoe

                                         

 

It is made out of several layers of hemp sewn together in a similar way to quilting. The stitches also have a decorative function. It is one of the several shoes found on an archaeological dig at The limes Watchtowers, North of Dunhuang, China, on the ancient silk road. Examples can also be seen on the feet of terracotta soldiers from Xi'an.

 

Foot Binding (1100BC)

 

 

The Foot Binding was introduced by China. It involved tightly wrapping the feet of young girls to prevent them from growing. Bound feet showed that the girl was well brought up and a good marriage prospect. Banned in 1911 as a brutal and disabling practice, it was previously an accepted part of a young girl's life and continued in some rural areas until the 1930's.

 

 

 

 

Pattens (1350)

   

 

 

Pattens were worn over shoes to protect them from wet and dirty city streets. As they were made to slip over the top of shoes, they had to be the same shape. The elongated toes show that they were intended to be worn over poulaines, a fashionable shoe style at that time.

 

 

 

 

Rounded Toes (1450)

 

 

 

Although the squared toe was popular in the early 1500's, the round toe was still the most practical option for children. This 600 year old shoe looks very modern and the rounded toe is still popular in the shoe designs.

 

 

 

 

Red Heels (1720)

 

When Charles II was restored to the throne in 1660 there were huge changes in fashion. The red heel of the French courts became increasingly common in Britain for men and women, a style supposedly brought over by Charles himself. This example shoes the persistence of the trend. 

 

 

 

Shoes for left and right feet (1830)

 

Before the 1830's, shoes were straight with no differentiation between the left and the right. French shoemakers introduced little paper labels on the insoles of the shoes, 'GAUCHE' (left) and 'DROIT' (right) in French. These labels were like branding and soon other countries copied, as French shoes were seen more fashionable.

 

 

 

Juttis (1870)

 

Jutties were light slippers with upturned toes, usually worn by wealthy female members of the court in the Mughal Empire. Typically, they were heavily decorated like this pair. Most Mughal women depicted between 1600 and 1850 are barefooted. Only princesses are shown wearing juttis illustrating the importance of shoes as a symbol of high status.

 

 

Pedestal Shoes (1875)

 

Pedestal shoes were worn by the Manchu people of China. The foot was placed on a raised platform five to ten centimeters off the ground. The hoof shape of the pedestal had a stabilizing effect for the wearer. Women wore higher and more elaborately decorated shoes then men.

 

 

1920's Glamour (1925)

 

 

After the first world war, the British public sought to find glamour within austerity. Shoes were made with elegance in mind, with elongated toes and clean silhouettes. The simple effect on these shoes are made from the interlacing of two different colors of leather.

 

 

 

My Product

Shades of Nude (21st Century)

 

 

In 2013, the shoes were displayed balanced on hands, as unclothed legs and feet are considered taboo in some countries. Now, shades of nude give more skin tone options, and appealing to a wider audience and highlighting the changing nature of the global economy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The design of shoes has varied enormously through time to time and form culture to culture, with form originally being tied to function.

 

 

  

Citations:

https://www.vam.ac.uk/shoestimeline/

https://www.martelandram.com/blogs/news/a-brief-history-of-uncomfortable-shoes

 

 

Name- Yudhi Jain

Roll number- 22BDC014

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