Brief History of Clogs and their Popularity as Nursing Shoes Today

Fashion is always undergoing changes. What has today caught the fancy of one and all happens to be backless slip-on shoes for women which are better known as clogs. Historically, clogs were renowned for their heavy soles and the usage of sturdy materials. They were worn by factory workers, farmers, and miners as a form of protective footwear in Scandinavia. The popularity replicated itself very quickly in the Netherlands where they started to be worn as well.

Even though such shoes are mostly associated with the Scandinavian countries, wooden shoes have been worn throughout the British Isles, Europe and the Mediterranean areas such as Greece and Italy. They also became highly popular at the time of the Industrial Revolution as a protective shoe for the workers.

During the wars of the twentieth century, the governments of a majority of the countries in Europe urged its citizens to wear wooden shoes due to a deficiency in the supply of leather. These efforts, however, proved to be unsuccessful as the wooden shoes still continued to be viewed as footwear for the working classes.

In the United States, these shoes became popular when in the 1960’s William School introduced a therapeutic footwear with a wooden base. A decade later, these shoes also known as clogs became a fashion trend after being worn by the group Abba.

Today even though clogs retain the look of the shoes which were available in the 70’s, the materials used have undergone some change. Today apart from wood, rubber and other synthetic materials are also used when making clogs so that they are able to withstand the effects of heat and water. These shoes are now available in a wide variety of colors for women.

Even though uppers made of leather are available, rubber clogs have gained widespread popularity, especially with nurses as they can be cleaned very easily. Operating room personnel have used clogs for a long time as they cannot wear any other footwear for such long hours. The rubber provides day long support and a firm foundation for weak arches and plantar fasciitis. They also help an individual stand straight as they take the pressure off the lower back.

Clogs, because of their ability to provide immense durability and improved durability have become highly popular amongst medical professionals and the general population alike.