Evolution of Materials Used in Shoes

Spanish cave drawings from more than 15,000 years ago show humans with animal skins or furs wrapped around their feet. Shoes, in some form or another, have been around for a very long time. The evolution of foot coverings, from the sandal to present-day athletic shoes continues even today as we find new materials with which to cover our feet.

Have the materials used in shoe really changed that much? We are, in fact, still wearing shoes that are made up of the same cloth, fabric, substance and material similar to the oldest crafted foot covering known to us. In fact, many of the shoes we wear today can be traced back to another era.

If we look at it analytically, the construction of shoes and the materials used for its construction relied heavily on the needs of a specific era or time. It also depended upon the availability of the materials in that region. By comparison, the materials used today in shoes lean more towards the fashion demands than the needs. Needs are still foreseen, but they are no more the top priority.

The evolution of the materials used in shoes is as extensive as can be and equally versatile.

It started off with leaves and animal hide. These materials were used solely for the protection of feet. As time progressed, other materials were discovered that promised more durability of shoes and the protection of feet.

The early 15^th century saw the rise of the renaissance period which first brought about the concept of fashion and style.

Leather was the most common material for footwear through the Renaissance. The skins of deer, goat, and sheep were common for light shoes for both men and women. The shoes could be fastened with hooks, buttons or lacings.

The period from 1520 to 1560 was one of political realism. Thus, the adopted shoe style was artificial rather than derived from nature.

Most men’s shoes were made of leather, with slashing on the toes. or women, delicate colours and violet were smart in leather, velvet, silk and other fabrics, though as the period continued, leather was used more frequently. In about 1570, fabrics were replaced by leather for all classes.

Timeline

Courtesy of Source: http://thepragmaticcostumer.wordpress.com/2014/01/14/the-three-shoes-every-penniless-historical-costumer-needs/

40000 BC – First archeological evidence of protective foot covering found in Ice Age settlements.

4000 BC –First recorded mentioning of shoes as “flexible pieces of leather” came from Ancient Egypt.

3627 BC – Archeologist found the earliest known leather shoe near one of the cave dwellings in Armenia.

3rd to 1st millennia BC – Many civilizations around the world used simple leather sandals in their daily life. Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamen carried to his tomb exquisite sandals that were engraved with beautiful golden pictures of gods and religious symbols.

1st millennia BC – Romans used platform sandals made from wood or cork soles. Buskin shoes were also common in Greece and Rome, where they were worn by tragic actors, hunters and soldiers.

Around 1000 AD – Shoes and sandals become commonplace across Europe, but they are often crude and hard to wear for long periods of time. Saxon wedding ritual in which bride throws one of her shoe behind her back to determine which of her bridesmaids will be married next was born.