What made clogs popular in the late 18th century?

What Are Clogs?

If you’re an avid follower of fashion and all the latest trends in the society, then you’ve most probably stumbled upon the term ‘clogs’ at least once or twice, especially in Europe and the United States. That does not mean clogs are not famous around the world; it merely shows how diverse they have been ever since bursting back to the fashion scene, just like in the late 1970s.

But what are clogs? Where did they come from? What makes them different from other footwear?

Although ‘clogs’ today are meant to refer to footwear with a wooden sole, they were originally shoes made entirely of wood. Clogs from Sweden and other parts of Europe have been around for a long, long time, even before the great Industrial Revolution took place. 

Why Wood?

Simply put, wood was the most commonly available material at that time. Leather and other materials were just being discovered or yet to be discovered, and wood was one thing that was freely available in the large forests scattered around Europe. Wood made the clogs cheap and durable, catching the fancy of the masses.

Wooden clogs from Sweden are exported all around the world. People in other countries like Netherlands, Germany, and France were also early adopters of clogs as their daily footwear.

The Art of Clog Making

The choice of wood for making clogs was very important, as weak wood could compromise the quality of the clogs. Common wood variants used for making clogs were Beech, Alder, Sycamore, Birch, and Willow. These clogs sometimes had a thick straw bed in place inside them to make them more comfortable to wear.

Craftsmen in Europe known as bodgers were responsible for shaping the soles in pairs. They were then stacked in pyramids to allow air to circulate around them naturally. Pairing the clogs together (left foot shoe and right foot shoe) allows them to shrink together, as the amount of sunlight they are exposed to determines how much they can shrink while drying.

Popularity of Clogs

Because of their durability and low price, they were popular among farmers and factory workers who were in dire need of feet protection. Slowly they came to be worn by the upper classes of the society in the late 19th century, although their clogs came in different designs and materials along with embellishments.

Most clog shoes are unisex, making them an ideal choice for both men and women.