Various kinds of thongs, from cheap foam/plastic to leather
In footwear and fashion, flip-flops (also known as
thongs) are a kind of flat, backless, usually rubber sandal consisting of a
flat sole held loosely on the foot by a U-shaped strap that passes between the first (big) and second toes and around either side
of the foot. They appear to have been developed based on traditional Japanese woven or wooden
soled sandals. The exact invention date is not known.
The flip-flop is not the only type of thong sandal. Other types exist, many of which are dressier and more formal than simple
flip-flops. A basic thong sandal is held on the foot by a strip that fits between the first and second toes and is connected to a
strap usually passing over the top or around the sides of the foot. Some thong sandals have a strap that forms a loop around the
first (big) toe. However, many different additions and variations of straps are possible. Thong sandals come in a variety of
styles such as women's heels, slides, and wedges, or kitten heels.
Flip-flops have a style of their own, different from other types of shoes. These dressier versions of the thong sandal are
often made of leather, suede, patent leather, metallic finishes, fabric and other textiles. Based upon prevailing fashion, they
are sometimes embellished with buckles, jewelry, fringes, medallions and beading. In their more formal incarnations, thong
sandals are interchangeable with any other dressy sandal, and are often worn as dress shoes. The term "flip-flop" is not
generically used to describe this dressier style of thong sandal.
Because of the popularity of thong sandals as dress shoes, hosiery manufacturers make hose (stockings) with a gap between the
first toe and second toes to accommodate the thong.
Nomenclature
Someone wearing flip flops. Note the method of securing to the foot by a thong passing between the toes.
A pair of worn Flip flops
A pair of Moroccan flip flops called "Cabjuks"
This sandal is known by different names in different localities:
- In Argentina, they are known as ojotas.
- In Australian English these are known as thongs or double pluggers.
- In Brazil they are known as sandálias or chinelos.
- In Canada they are known as flip flops or thongs.
- In China, they are known as traditional
Chinese: 拖鞋; pinyin: tuōxié (referring
to shoes which drag to the floor).
- In Czech republic and in Slovakia they are known as
žabky (translated means frogs)
- In Denmark they are known as klip-klappere.
- In El Salvador, they are known as yinas and chancletas.
- In Estonia they are known as plätud.
- In Flanders, they are known as teensletsen
- In French they are known as tongs, except in Quebec where they are known as
gougounes.
- In Francophone Africa they are known as tapettes.
- In Ghana they are known as chale wotes
- In Gibraltar they are known as shanklas (from Spanish chanclas)
- In Greece they are known as sagionares (from the famous Japanese farewell
Sayōnara)
- In Guam they are known as "zorries" or slippers.
- In Hawaii, sandals are known as slippers or slippas. Flip-flops specifically are known as
jap-slaps [sic] .
- In Hungary they are known as vietnami papucs (translates as Vietnamese
slipper)
- In India, similar sandals are known as Hawaii Chappals.
Some kinds of chappals are made of leather, and some have a strap over the big toe.
- In Indonesia, they are known as "sandal jepit".
- In Israel, they are known as כפכפי-אצבע (transliterated into English:
kafkafey-etsba, meaning toe slippers)
- In Italy, they are called infradito , literally inter-toes.
- In Jamaica, they are known as slippers or sandals.
- In Malawi they are known as "ma slippas" or "ma pata pata".
- In Malaysia, they are known as selipar jepun, literally "Japanese slippers"
- In Mexico, they are called "chanclas."
- In Myanmar they are known as "Pha Nut".
- In The Netherlands, they are known as teenslippers
- In New Zealand English they are known generically as jandals (JApanese
sANDALS).
- In Pakistan they are known as chappals, qainchey chappals or Hawaiian chappals
- In Philippines they are known as tsinelas and slippers.
- In Poland they are known as japonki which literally translated means "Japanese women",
but its real meaning is simply "The Japanese"
- In Russia they are known as vyetnamki meaning "Vietnamese", or slancy - by the
name of a town (Slancy), where they have been made since Soviet era.
- In Spain they are known as chancletas or chanclas.
- In Sri Lanka they are known as slippers or Bata, after the name of the most popular
flip-flop brand in the country Bata.
- In Trinidad & Tobago they are known as slippers
- In Turkey they are known as tokyo, şipidik, parmak-arası.
- In Uganda they are known as makambos
- In the United States, they are generally known as sandals, flip-flops, go-aheads,
thongs, and zories
- In the United States Army, they are known as shower-shoes
- In the United States Navy, they are known as go-slowers (a play on "go-fasters",
the Navy term for running shoes)
- In Uruguay, they are known as chancletas
- In Venezuela, they are known as: aloas
Uses and fashions
Flip-flops are the most basic of footwear — essentially a thin rubber sole with two simple straps running in a Y from the
sides of the foot to the join between the big toe and next toe. Popular use of flip-flops as simple warm climate beach or outdoor
wear has spread through much of the world, although it is most common in Australia,
New Zealand, California and
Florida (USA), the Pacific Islands, and
Southeast Asia. Indeed, in the warmer climates of Australia, New Zealand, Florida, and
California, flip flops (thongs) have become something of a fashion statement amongst teens and young adults, so much so that have
begun to replace enclosed shoes as everyday footwear during the warmer seasons.
Flip flops were not always the fashion staple many consider them today. In developing
countries, rubber flip-flops are the cheapest footwear available – typically less than $1. Despite their disposable design, street vendors will repair worn sandals for a small fee.
Sometimes flip-flops are made of recycled rubber tires, reducing the cost even further.
Flip flops are also popular with barefooters when they have to wear shoes since they allow
the foot to be out in the open but still constitute a shoe, and can be quickly and easily removed
to expose one's bare feet. They are also popular because they are easy to bring in a backpack
or purse because of their flat design.
Many people consider flip-flops comfortable. Some people like to wear them every day. Unfortunately, flip-flops are often not
very sturdy and the straps may snap after moderate use (this is known as a "blowout"). They can be fixed, but many people choose
to just buy new ones, discarding of the old ones. Unintentionally in the name of fashion, the invention of interchangeable straps
that lock into the base of the sandal ameliorated this problem. Still, the average life
expectancy of a pair is perhaps only a year or so depending on the material make-up of the soles.
Northwestern Women's Lacrosse team at the White House. Four of the women in the front row are wearing thong sandals that were
labeled "flip-flops" by critics.
On July 19, 2005, some members of Northwestern University's national champion
women's lacrosse team were criticized for wearing "flip-flops" to the White House to meet with President George W. Bush. Although the
women pointed out that their shoes were not "beach shoes," but were dressier thong sandals, many weighed in on this fashion
choice. Those adding to the controversy included Meghan Cleary, a footwear expert, who stated that a closed-toe shoe would have
been more appropriate. Cleary noted on MSNBC's Connected: Coast to
Coast program as saying the flip-flop flap indicated a cultural shift similar to when blue jeans were first worn in
public. The Northwestern Women's Lacrosse Team auctioned off the thong sandals worn to the White House to raise money for a 10
year-old girl with a brain tumor. [1][2]
In Japan and Korea, where it is common to leave shoes outside the house and the use of squat
toilets is common, flip-flops are typically provided to wear while using the toilet.
The use of flip-flops has also been encouraged in some branches of European and North American military as sanitary footwear
in communal showers, where wearing flip-flops slows the spread of fungal infections. Following on from this, some soldiers and
other trampers or hikers have begun carrying flip-flops, or a pair of flip-flop soles sewn to socks, as a lightweight emergency
replacement for damaged boots.
Indeed, the Indian manifestation of the flip-flop, the chappal, has even been known to be deployed as a weapon, both as a
truncheon and a missile, although it is more commonly merely a threat. It is not unheard of for people to whip off their chappals
in the heat of an argument, in order to make their aggravation more palpable to the other party. (Touching the shoes or feet of
another, in some Indian cultures, is a sign of respect or submission).
Flip-flops were inspired by the traditional woven soled zori or "Japanese Sandals", (hence "jandals"). Woven Japanese zori had been used as beach wear in New
Zealand in the 1930s, (and according to one source, were then called Jandals). In the post war period in both New Zealand and
America, versions were briefly popularized by servicemen returning from occupied Japan. The idea of making sandals from rubber or
plastics, which were relatively new at the time, does not appear to have occurred for another decade. The modern design was
invented in Auckland, New Zealand by Maurice Yock in the 50's and patented in 1957.
Despite being commonly used to describe any manufacturer's Jandals, the word Jandal has been a trademark since 1957, for a
long time owned by the Skellerup company. At one point a competitor sold Jandels. In countries
outside the Pacific, jandals have, for intellectual property reasons, become known by other names. For example, thongs, in
Australia, where the first pair manufactured by Skellerup rival Dunlop in 1960, or
flip-flops (UK and US).
In New Zealand, the phrase "to handle the jandal" is a common idiom. As an example, Ben can't handle the jandal
indicates that the subject Ben is incapable of dealing with his particular situation.
Flip flops now come in a variety of shoe styles other than the traditional flat sandal, such as women's heels, slides, and
wedges.
The shoes gained popularity as celebrities started wearing them and high end designers started producing them. Designer
Sigerson Morrison first added a kitten heel to flip flops.
Flip-flops in popular culture
- In the 1977 hit Margaritaville, Jimmy Buffett
sings, "I blew out my flip-flop."
- Kiwiana, and are often referenced in New Zealand and Pacific Island culture. A jandal
designed to be posted and sent through the mail was produced as a gimmick to send overseas. Jandals can be seen:
- For the closing ceremony for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Kylie Minogue was carried into the stadium on a giant thong to
perform "On a Night Like This".
- in the cartoon Footrot Flats, where farming characters like Wal and Rangi wear
them, when not wearing gumboots
- in the Naked Samoans inspired television family, Mrs. Samesi's usual method of showing displeasure is a well-aimed
jandal,
- in wearable art, a number of up-market and quirky jandal designs have appeared, (while
a dress made out of thongs appeared on a Drag Queen in the movie Priscilla, Queen of the Desert)
- in the cartoon sitcom Bro'Town, where characters frequently wear jandals, and in the
episode, "The Wong One", jandals were used as a Kung Fu weapon
- in the lyrics of King Kapisi, "I'm goin' stompin, in my big Pacific Island jandals," and
in his music videos, in one of which jandals were used to take bids at a sheep auction
- in The Golden Jandal, awarded at the Radio Active 89FM Handle the Jandal awards,
to celebrate D.I.Y. music videos for New Zealand music.
- in NZ culture news and links site, "Dag and Jandal".
- in NZ TV series Jandals Away.
- In the Online MRPG VMK green flip-flops are one of the most sought-after items
- A popular campaign theme for the Republican Party was to label 2004
Presidential candidate John Kerry as indecisive on the issues, or a "flip-flopper." Delegates
at the 2004 Republican National Convention could be seen waving
flip-flops.
- In movie It's All Gone Pete Tong, flip-flops are one of the main
motive and major figure of DJ Frankie Wilde said "Flip-flop is to me perfection."
- In 2005, the Northwestern University Women's Lacrosse team had a photograph taken with President George W. Bush. The
photo raised significant controversy because several of the women wore flip-flops in the picture, sparking a debate over proper
attire in youth culture.
- Recently, rapper Cam'ron has criticized Jay-Z publicly for
his wearing of jeans with chancletas, which are relatively cheap sandals usually favored by Latinos. Many believe Jay-Z was
actually wearing some form of expensive slipper, not the relatively cheap chancletas, which are usually worn with socks and not
with jeans.
- The cartoon illustrated fiction book, "Flip Flop Bop," written by Matt Novak in 2005 tells the story of school children who
mark the end of school and the start of summer by wearing flip flops from "The Flip Flop Shop." This rhyming children's read
showcases the growing popularity of the shoe that was once strictly beach wear.
- On the Adult Swim television show, Aqua Teen
Hunger Force, the Aqua Teens' neighbour, Carl, wears green flip-flops.
Health concerns
While widely regarded to be comfortable, flip-flops provide little to no ankle support, and are responsible for many foot
related issues. Dr. John E. Mancuso, a podiatrist at the Manhattan Podiatry Associates in New York, pointed out that some
flip-flops have a spongy sole, so when the foot hits the ground, it rolls inward and the sponge allows it to roll even more than
usual. This is known as pronation and causes many problems in the foot. Each time a foot hits
the ground, the arch is supposed to be locked to absorb shock. But during pronation, the arch opens and releases this locking
mechanism, leading to problems such as pain in the heel, the arch, the toes and in the forefoot. Overpronation of the foot also
results in flat feet, especially if flip flops are worn throughout childhood and adolesence when the muscles, bones, and tendons
of the feet are growing and developing. Exacerbating this, some flip-flops force a person to overuse the tendons in the foot,
which can cause tendinitis.
Many people believe that the pronation of the foot is meant to be left un-controlled. The arch is supposed to flex downward to
absorb shock, rather than the arch being locked. This is proven only by a degree of neutral runners as it can be contradicted
that over or under-pronation can lead to more health problems other than strengthening the foot.
The need to control the pronation or supinaton of the foot is currently being questioned. See http://www.american-trackandfield.com/features/nikefreereview04.html
Ankle sprains are also common due to stepping off a curb or stepping wrong; the ankle bends, but the flip flop neither holds
on to nor supports it. The open nature of flip-flops also makes the wearer more susceptible to stubbed toes, and exposes the foot
to the environment. The toe grip can be useful for preventing the foot from slipping forward in a convenient sandal, but flip
flops with bands across higher areas of the foot or the arch are recommended for support and keeping the shoe on the foot. Thong
sandals are also popular with the same proportions and structures of flip flops, but with the addition of a slingback or an ankle
strap that holds and supports the foot in a stable position. Arch support is also found in many more expensive and better made
flip flops rather than the ubiquitous foam materials. Spending more on a better quality, better created shoe can influence the
wearers health and safety. They are also more commonly endowed with rubberized soles and better cushions.
See also
References
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