The clog is a shoe worn by both sexes and most recently and commonly associated with both the nursing and restaurant industries. As may be surmised, it is favored by those in industries when being on your feet is a constant reality and strong foot support is need to prevent both slipping, foot pain and injury. Traditional clogs are made predominantly out of wood and are Dutch in their heritage. They traditionally had leather sides and uppers. The Dutch version of the clog, or the Klompen was used as a work shoe during the industrial revolution. It was also worn in France, England, Belgium, Luxenbourg and the Netherlands. They reason for their extreme popularity at this time is that they were cheap to make, they were comfortable, they protected the foot and they were durable. These clogs were usually closed back, while many today are open backed in style.
The material used to make clogs has expanded. They can be made with cork soles for comfort or out of different materials altogether such as rubber or polyurethane. As people become more interested in the health of their feet, clogs and other shoes have grown in popularity. Traditionally, the kind of wood with which a clog was made was directly related to the part of the world in which they were being made. Clogs from the Netherlands were made with willow poplar. Clogs from England were made from alder.
Another aspect of the history of the clog is clog dancing. This form of dance was first popularized during the mid Victorian era. The natural sound created by the wood against other wood and stone may have been the original inspiration to syncopate the rhythm and create dances. Some dancers added metal to the bottom of their shoes to add the drama. This kind of dancing was typically a male activity and men formed troupes to travel and to dance. Later on, women joined as well. In fact, clog dancing is an ancestor of tap dancing in the United States. Now, you can see clog dancing at traditional festivals and at large dance competitions. Large organizations like RiverDance have given the art resurgence and made it a popular ticket for theater goers.
Clogs are comfortable, well built shoes that can be used in the workplace, as casual footwear and to express yourself through dance making them a very versatile shoe.
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