How Wooden Swedish Clogs Have Relevant All These Years, Defying Fashion and Changing It As We Know

Clogs are pretty unique; they are made of wood and adorned with decorations and other materials. This is the modern clog we are talking about, such as women’s clog heels, clog boots, clog sandals, etc. What many people don’t know that wooden Swedish clogs have stayed relevant not since their resurgence in the 70s, but they were used in Europe as far back as 11-13^th century. Not many fashion icons stay relevant for so long, so what made clogs any different?

Clogs of Bygone Era

The earliest recorded clogs were from The 1200s, in the area surrounding present-day Netherlands and Sweden. It was first introduced as the common man’s footwear because they were easy to make from wood (that was available in plenty) and offered solid protection for feet. Back then, there were no machines or equipment for manufacturing, so all shoes were hand made by skilled cobblers.

As civilizations expanded and developed, so did the wooden clogs. Wooden clogs started changing designs, and what was once limited to farmers started being embraced by the general public, even those of the high society. After world war 2, wooden shoes lost their appeal and fashionable leather shoes came into public acceptance, taking away all the limelight from the wooden ones. This period saw a big dip in the popularity of wooden shoes.

The Resurgence and Widespread Adoption

Sometime in the 70s, wooden Swedish clogs made a big comeback in a completely different avatar; adopting hybrid shoes instead of 100% wooden shoes. Not many wanted full wooden shoes, but everyone wanted a hybrid wooden clog with wooden heels and uppers made of leather, suede, etc. that lead to their appeal. This way, wooden clogs changed their exterior outlook to stay relevant in the fast-changing world of fashion. Demand for hybrid wooden shoes meant traditional manufacturers had to completely change the way they made traditional wooden shoes, for the stitching of new materials on wooden soles required another kind of expertise many didn’t have.

As a result, most modern wooden Swedish clogs are partly made of hand and partly by using machines. This also helps because the demand for wooden clogs is a lot more today than it used to be centuries ago, hence the involvement of machines not only make production accurate, but also faster.

Today, wooden clog shoes form an important part of Swedish fashion culture and find themselves in demand all over the world. The rich tradition, propelled by their uniqueness that most modern shoes don’t have, have led to wooden clogs staying relevant even after all these years.

Swedish Clogs, You’ll Want to Live in

How many times have you sacrificed comfort, or let’s be honest, tolerated outright pain for style? Yes, there is a fix for this one, don’t buy uncomfortable shoes no matter how cute they are instead opt for classic and timeless pieces that will add to your wardrobe. Now, you might be eager to know what’s that real deal?  The answer is Swedish clogs, back in the game and they are here to stay.

The big question isn’t who would wear clogs? It is: Who doesn’t want to wear clogs? These wooden sole, chunky shoes are spotted by every fashionista who knows the style and ease it offers. Swedish clogs are ideal for women who want to flaunt but with ease, but if you think they are wearisome or uncomfortable you’re in for a surprise.

You don’t have to be a farm farmer to walk in clogs, Swedish clogs come with a vast array of styles and can be worn in any season and any occasion with any outfit. Contrary to what people may think, clogs are made of breathable wood of good quality which makes them a best fit to be worn even in summer or in winters. No one likes sweaty or cold feet to have and as just you like to dress up you should also look for great wearing comfort for your feet. Clogs, a minimalist pair of footwear, can be accommodated with any of your outfits being it dresses, skirts, trousers or jeans. These all season Swedish clogs are perfect for those who want simplicity of a step-in/step-out style. It isn’t always easy to find glamour and comfort at one place but considering the heel and slide profile, a clog can be the most comfortable footwear to choose.

Finding footwear, especially for women, that’s probably comfortable and attractive and can be worn at the workplace or for formal use is a challenging task. But once you step your feet into Swedish clog you will never want to switch to other footwear.

What to look for in a pair of Swedish clogs for women?

●     Lightweight, keeps clogs comfortable to walk in without any difficulty.

●     Choose a model with padded instep for extra comfort.

●     Clogs with laces or adjustable straps for flexibility.

●     Genuine leather is ideal. If leather feels stiff at first, don’t worry, it will eventually soften with wear.

●     And last but not the least, pair your clogs with socks to give a chic look.

●     Constructed with a thick PU sole, which makes the clog softer and quieter to walk in.

●     Clogs with raised heels put the foot in an optimal angle for support and posture.

A Concise Insight Into History of Swedish Clogs for Men and Women

Introduction

Whenever we hear the words ‘clogs’, two European countries specifically come to mind: Netherlands and Sweden. Sure, other countries also had their own piece of history on clogs, but these two countries are most predominantly credited with popularizing wooden clogs for men and women and bringing them into fashionable territory. 

As similar as the name may sound, Swedish clogs are very different from Dutch clogs. Dutch clogs typically had an entire shoe built of wood with closed backs that emphasized durability and protection over everything else as these clogs were traditionally worn by farmers and workers to protect their feet. Swedish clogs on the other hand were always fashionable and came in different designs, putting more emphasis on looks and style over everything else, resulting in clogs being welcomed to mainstream use.

History of Swedish Clogs

Swedish clog shave been used in Sweden since over hundreds of years. The main reason why clogs were the preferred choice of footwear was because wood was available in plenty. Wood was inexpensive, could be easily worked on and made shoes durable. This lead to making of the first Swedish wooden clogs that started out as staple footwear for farmers and factory workers in early 1800s. There were also variants that were used for casual use, but discovery of leather and other shoe making materials meant not many preferred to be seen in public wearing clogs.

 

Rise of Clogs in 1970s

Sometime in the 70s, top fashion houses of the fashion industry were looking to start a new footwear trend among women, and turned to clogs. This led to evolution of traditional Swedish clogs into their modern avatar which uses not only their trademark wooden construction, but also different materials such as leather and suede. The general public from different parts of the world who had never even heard about clogs started to like the. Clog footwear were hailed as a top fashion icon of the 70s, and it was just the beginning of clog fashion.

Wooden Clogs Today

Today, there are countless clog sellers available, both online and offline, selling all kinds of clogs in different styles and designs. However, not all are authentic Swedish clogs; in fact, most international clog sellers have no history of selling clogs, jumping on to the bandwagon by making their own take on clogs. While the clogs they sell are good, they do not carry centuries’ worth of history in them like traditional Swedish clog makers do. If you want the authentic Swedish experience, always prefer to buy wooden clogs from original Swedish clog makers.