How did jandals become an nz icon?

Answer 1

Jandals are specifically known to New Zealanders.

Other countries call them flip flops or thongs (aussies), of course us New Zealanders know a thong as an article of clothing for woman.

Many New Zealanders use the term 'jandal' to describe their favourite summer footwear, but are they the genuine article?

The name 'jandal' was trademarked 50 years ago and can only be used by the company that owns it, which is now Sandford Industries.

It is widely reported that Morris Yock invented the jandal, but his son says it was common in Japan at the time. He says his father simply came up with the name, a derivative of 'Japanese sandal', before trademarking it in October 1957.

In the jandal heyday of the 1980s, Skellerup owned the brand.

"It was very popular. There were hundreds and hundreds of thousands sold," says Skellerup footwear manager Paul Randall.

In the 1990s Viking footwear took on the name and fought hard to protect it. In an interesting PR move it took out a newspaper advertisement threatening those who used the name that their "legal eagles will sock it to you".

The original jandal sets itself apart with its specific rubber formula.

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"If someone's first in the market and they push the product strongly it tends to have a lingering effect, similar to Electrolux or a product like that. So brand protection's very important in footwear," says Randall.

And while Sanford Industries is better known for making gumboots, they still make the summertime favourite.

Answer 2

It became an icon o New Zealand because it gets really hot in New Zealand and so to keep our feet nice and cool on concrete and in beaches