How popular were wooden clog sandals in the early 20th century?

Wooden clogs were vastly popular among the peasant folk throughout Europe in the 20^th century and were worn to provide protection and comfort to the feet. Though considered a footwear for the labor class, wooden clog sandals came of age and became a fashion accessory towards the end of the 20^th century.

 

These wooden clog sandals had their roots in Holland and eventually spread into France, England and Scandinavia. During the time of Industrial revolution, clogs became the most preferred shoe for workers. The all-wooden shoe was manufactured from a single block of wood and were called by different names in different countries. In Netherlands, they were called Klomp, in Germany, Klompen and in France, Sabots. The Dutch clogs were made entirely of wood whereas the French clogs were made of wood and leather.

 

Wooden clog sandals were popular among both male and female peasants since they provided warmth and protection. Wooden clogs kept the feet in good stead and so were worn by miners, agricultural workers and construction workers. The clogs protected the feet of agricultural workers from mud and from injury caused by sharp tools used in the field. Farmers used to wear specially decorated clogs to attend church on Sundays and also on holidays.

The working clogs were just simple ones and devoid of decoration. However, clogs which were worn to church or to weddings were painted and carried embellishments on them. Red, black and yellow were the only colors used on the clogs. The wooden clogs also didn’t carry any decoration but to make them look a bit fancy and give a leathery feel, the upper portion featured laces and lace holes.

Wooden clog sandals are made from three types of wood- European willow, yellow poplar and tulip poplar. These woods are hard and resistant to water. After the tree is felled, the wood is cut and made into clogs. No other material is used to manufacture these shoes. Wooden clogs were traditionally made entirely out of hand by specialized artisans though nowadays the shoes are carved by machine.

A clog is made from a single block of wood. The logs are first debarked and sawed into rectangular blocks. Then a machine called shaper, shapes the exterior of the wood into a shoe by rotating its two blanks in opposite directions which help in carving a left shoe and a right one simultaneously. The interior is then carved by a boring machine which scoops out the wood blocks according to the required dimensions.

Next, the shoes are placed in a refiner which trims and chisels any excess wood to give the shoes a smooth finish. The shoes are then left to dry for three to five weeks. After the shoes are completely dry, the clog worker sands them inside out. The clogs are now ready to wear.