Footwear Evolution

Footwear is very important. It surprises people to know that for many generations, shoes were not worn by many humans, and in some cultures they are still not widespread. The purpose of footwear is to protect the foot, which is wise for humans, who rely on just two feet for running, walking and jumping. In the past, injuries to the feet could spell disaster to hunter gatherers, preventing them from hunting efficiently and escaping enemies and predators. It is difficult to ascertain at exactly which point humans began to wear shoes or foot protection. Leather, which is one of the materials most likely to be used for early footwear, does not last indefinitely so very old examples have almost certainly long since decayed. There is a theory which suggests that humans first started wearing some sort of shoe between 40,000 and 26,000 years ago – this is because at around this time human remains begin to show a decrease in toe thickness (except the big toe), which some believe demonstrates they were walking less on bare feet. Although simple leather designs will have been used for thousands of years, it is only recently that modern materials have allowed more complex and scientific designs to become popular, and have allowed affordable footwear to reach more and more people than ever.

Although leather shoes are often still considered to be the best quality for certain applications, increasingly sports and athletic shoes are made from synthetic materials. These are typically quite light weight, but supportive and breathable. The variety of shoes is quite staggering, as well as sports shoes there are shoes for just about every occasion, from high heeled ladies footwear to dance sneakers and flip flops. The advances in materials have benefitted a number of industries, and it is almost impossible to imagine a world without manmade fibres, and although there has recently been a drive to use more natural products, there is a place for plastics and similar synthetics if they are produced responsibly and recycled. A lot of dance shoes are still made from traditional materials, but there is a growing trend for footwear such as dance sneakers. This may well be because many modern dances have evolved from street culture, where fashion is very important, and where dance contests are often performed on concrete or tarmac, creating a need for extra protection. Some dance sneakers to not look dissimilar to ordinary trainers to the untrained eye, but there are often clear differences to those who know what to look for. An example is that dance sneakers often have split soles for extra flexibility, allowing a performer to achieve moves and positions which would not be particularly possible in trainers with full soles.

Although dance sneakers are often used by fashion conscious performers of hip hop and other modern dances, they are also being used increasingly for other styles. This is a sure sign that the practicality and versatility of the design is being appreciated by a wider group of dancers than ever before.