It is thought that shoes may have been used long before this, but because the materials used were highly perishable, it is difficult to find evidence of the earliest footwear. The Jotunheimen shoe was discovered in August 2006: archaeologists estimate that this leather shoe was made between 18 BC, making it the oldest article of clothing discovered in Scandinavia. Ötzi the Iceman's shoes, dating to 3300 BC, featured brown bearskin bases, deerskin side panels, and a bark-string net, which pulled tight around the foot. The world's oldest leather shoe, made from a single piece of cowhide laced with a leather cord along seams at the front and back, was found in the Areni-1 cave complex in Armenia in 2008 and is believed to date to 3500 BC. The earliest known shoes are sagebrush bark sandals dating from approximately 7000 or 8000 BC, found in the Fort Rock Cave in the US state of Oregon in 1938. Roman shoes: a man's, a woman's and a child's shoe from Bar Hill Roman Fort, Scotland. 90% of shoes end up in landfills, because the materials are hard to separate, recycle or otherwise reuse. Globally, the shoe industry is a $200 billion a year industry. Traditionally, shoes have been made from leather, wood or canvas, but are increasingly being made from rubber, plastics, and other petrochemical-derived materials. Some shoes are designed for specific purposes, such as boots designed specifically for mountaineering or skiing, while others have more generalized usage such as sneakers which have transformed from a special purpose sport shoe into a general use shoe. High fashion shoes made by famous designers may be made of expensive materials, use complex construction and sell for large sums of money. Basic sandals may consist of only a thin sole and simple strap and be sold for a low cost. Contemporary footwear varies widely in style, complexity and cost. Some shoes are worn as safety equipment, such as steel-toe boots, which are required footwear at industrial worksites.Īdditionally, fashion has often evolved into many different designs, such as high heels, which are most commonly worn by women during fancy occasions. Form was originally tied to function but over time shoes also became fashion items. Though the human foot can adapt to varied terrains and climate conditions, it is vulnerable, and shoes provide protection. A variety of shoes displayed at the Nordic Museum, including models from 1700 to the 1960s.Ī shoe is an item of footwear intended to protect and comfort the human foot.

Download shoes