Flip-Flops

Flip-flops ( also flip -flop ) is a modern term for beach sandals and toes Treads made ​​of plastic with thong and oblique strap attachment.

Historical

Flip-flops belong to the group of thong sandals. Thong sandals have been around for thousands of years; they are regarded as one of the original forms sandals of ancient Egypt. In Japan, these are called Zori sandals there for centuries the classic footwear. Flip-flops there for several decades, though not under that name, but as a flop or just beach sandals ( colloquially slippers / slippers and in Youth Language toe thong called ).

In contrast to Germany, the term flip-flop is ( with hyphen) in Anglo-Saxon countries is not a protected brand, but since the 1960s, only a descriptive term for this kind of shoes. This onomatopoetic term to describe the sound that make this type shoes when walking, the triathlete Stefanie Schulze German brand flip -flop ( with hyphen) who registered at the Trademark and Patent Office in 1997. After initial difficulties over 200,000 annually pair alone were sold from this brand. Claims to the Brazilian brand Havaianas is the world's largest manufacturer therefore has produced over 2.3 billion pairs since 1962.

Demarcation and construction

Sometimes incorrectly thong sandals made ​​of leather or with a cork insole (Birkenstock) are called flip-flops. Flip-flops, however, are characterized by the simple construction and the water- resistant plastic material, and represent only a subset of the thong sandal dar.

The straps are easily inserted through holes in the mostly single-layered ground. Ground and belts are usually made of various plastics. The bottom has sometimes a damping function ( of foamed ethylene vinyl acetate) and is one to two centimeters thick.

Production is almost exclusively in Asia (Vietnam, China ), whereby the production cost of a pair of flip-flops including material are in the cents area. In this respect, flip-flops are an extremely cost effective footwear.

Material and dangers

Flip-flops are made ​​of plastic ( PVC / PVDC / chlorinated plastics). In order to make these normally hard and brittle materials soft and flexible, can be added to them plasticizer. As the magazine Öko-Test noted certain plasticizers can be solved by welding, pass through the skin into the body and there damage the liver, the kidneys, endocrine and immune systems.

Flip-flops keep the foot no additional support, no leadership, and rather less attenuation. Because the artificial materials are not breathable and sweat are unable to buffer, is ostensibly breezy sandals despite the risk of developing athlete's foot. The television station " ProSieben " examined in its program " Galileo" with Simi Motion the effects of flip-flops on the gait pattern of the beam ( see web link below) and summarized: "On the basis of these results, the flip- flop should be seen more as a fashion accessory and not be worn permanently. Much better are shoes that support the foot in its natural position and movement. "

First and foremost, flip-flops are so fashion items that do not meet the requirements made of shoes usually functional requirements (protection, management and support ). Although also have other types of sandals for example, in terms of protection restrictions, but due to the flip-flop at the combination of cheap forms and cheap materials in this special way. In this respect, flip-flops should only temporarily and not too often be worn.

Use

Since the turn of the millennium flip-flops are increasingly worn in everyday life as summer Freizeitsandale. The original purpose of this footwear to protect the foot against foot fungus in public baths and the mechanical protection of the sole of the foot on the beach is no longer critical to the buying decision.

Since this type of sandal is produced in masses, you can see flip-flops, increasingly, at the feet of very poor people in many warm climate of the world. By functional (protective ), orthopedic ( support and guide ) and hygiene ( perspiration, skin protection) point of view (see above) this type of sandal is not suitable as a normal Alltagsfußbekleidung, but should be limited to its actual purpose as a bath shoe use.

Origin of the name

Where did the name for this type of sandal is originally and who used it for the first time, is not clear. There are several approaches a statement ( for example, the presumption that the name the onomatopoeic description of the noise is that generate these shoes while walking, when they hit the ground and then spring back to the sole of the foot ), but none of them to be considered as secured. Previously, beach sandals were also called Dianette, this term has almost completely disappeared with the advent of designation flip-flops within a few years.

In addition to this type of sandal descriptive term " flip-flop ", there is also the brand name flip- flop. This is protected in Germany, part of the Bernd Hummel Group flip- flop GmbH.