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Slippers are shoes made of wood or leather, with some designed for dancing. Clogs were originally made of wood and are still used in some workplaces. They were popular in England and France, and clogging shoes are now fashionable in the US.
The term slippers refers to a type of shoe or sandal made primarily of wood. Clog boots are made with thick wooden soles and have high leather sides. Sometimes they come with steel toe caps and reinforcement inserts to protect the sole of the foot. Special types of clogging shoes are available for dancing or jamming, with tapping soles. These are similar to tap shoes, but the taps are free to click together, creating a unique sound.
Currently, clogs refer to any type of comfortable shoe without laces. Most are now made primarily of leather, but some models still have wooden soles. In gardening, clogs made entirely of rubber are used, due to their easy cleaning. Some clogs come with raised heels, and it is accepted that both men and women can wear high or low heeled clogs. Workers in mines, factories, and farms still commonly wear wooden slippers.
The original slippers are made of willow and poplar wood, and are considered a form of national dress in the Netherlands and Sweden. Wooden clogs have passed all modern safety requirements for use in workplaces, and are considered good for your feet. They are not as widely used in modern times, but are still used by gardeners and farmers.
In England, wooden slats were secured with thongs to lift feet off muddy man-made roads. These were known as patterns and were worn over shoes made of leather or cloth. Impoverished people who could not afford shoes wore the patterns directly against their skin. Slippers and English clog patterns were usually made of Scottish birch or alder.
Clogging shoes quickly rose in popularity with the British during the Industrial Revolution. The influx of jobs created a huge demand for sturdy, inexpensive footwear. The obstruction is said to have originated from factory workers, dancing during breaks to entertain themselves. This became a national pastime in 19th century England, and competitions were commonly held in music halls.
Clogs were also worn in France, where they were called sabots. As in England, sabots were mainly worn by factory workers, farmers, and miners. The term sabotage was formed when unhappy workers threw their sabots at machinery to intentionally cause it to malfunction.
In recent years, clogging shoes have started to make a comeback, with use in the United States. The difference is that in Europe, clogs are mainly worn for work, while in the United States they are worn for fashion and style. Some new styles of clogs include soles up to 8 inches (20 cm) high.
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