There are times in this life when elaborate is the way to go: high-end sport shoes named after well-known athletes or fabulous pumps from famous European designers both have their place. But if you're walking down a sandy beach, high heels are useless and those fancy sports shoes will get filled with sand like any other shoe. And what if you just want to run out and pick up the mail on a summer afternoon. You don't want to deal with lacing up your regular shoes just to run in and out of the house, but its sure nice to have something between your feet and the hot pavement. And so the appeal of cheap sandals. Purchased at discount and sometimes in bulk by even the wealthiest and pickiest of shoppers, there's never anything fussy about flip-flops. They've gone by other names, from the proper "thong," - which can obviously create confusion with a very differently positioned article of minimal clothing - to "jandals," and the somewhat less well-known "pluggers", and of course "sandals". In any case, minimalist shoes by any other name still protect the bottom of your feet. The roots of the thong are as ancient as the idea of the shoe itself and go back all the way to the dawn of civilization. However, it's popularity in the developed world is a little more recent. Flipflop-like shoes known as "flip flaps" may have been in use in the United States in the mid 19th century, and versions of the simple Japanese flip-flop called the Zori were being worn in New Zealand as early as the 1930s. After the end of the war in the Pacific in 1945, thousands more allied servicemen were introduced to the zori concept while stationed in occupied Japan, and the style became more internationally popular. Still, the modern day rubber and plastic design was introduced more than a decade later. In 1957, New Zealander Morris Yock patented the modern design of the shoe which was later marketed in that country as the "Jandal" (for "Japanese Sandal"). Though there is an ongoing dispute between Yock's heirs and those of another inventor, John Cowie, there was simply no stopping the simple, basic, yet effective design of the modern day thong/flip flop/Jandal. Certainly, as the most inexpensive, casual and open-air footwear there is, its popularity in beach communities, where "no shoes, no shirts, no service" signs are as ubiquitous as saltwater, seems to be never-ending. Nowadays, flip flops come in an great of styles aimed at both sexes, from the most beautiful and artistic designs imaginable to styles so business like simplicity. There are even dressy flip-flops for girls that created a stir some years back when some of the Women's Lacrosse Team from Northwestern University wore them to the White House. There were people who considered the casual sandals insulting to wear in the President's house. In any case, those wishing to stem the tide of informality that has swept the U.S. over the last several decades are invariably swimming upstream. While there is little doubt that you can find flip-flops that tare ridiculously expensive, the beauty of flip flops is that mostly they are practically disposable, super cheap shoes. Most flip-flops only last a couple months. Although, some people are known for their desire to extend the life of their cheap goods indefinitely covering their torn shoes with duct tape or other material fixes. In the end, however, people are looking for comfort and and cheap joy when they buy their flip-flops.
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There are times in this life when elaborate is the way to go: high-end walking or running shoes named after superstar athletes or gorgeous flats from famous European fashion designers both have their place. But if you're walking down a sandy beach, pumps may not be the best choice. And what if you just want to run out and pick up the mail on a summer afternoon. You don't want to deal with lacing up your regular shoes just to run in and out of the house, but its sure nice to have something ...
This article was written by Marc Joseph, who enjoys giving advice on discount and wholesale distributor. Marc has been able to bulk up his savings throughout the years on cheap flip flops.
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