Modern wooden clogs are everywhere; you can see them in the United States, Europe, Asia, South America and so on. What was once limited to only a few areas, has been truly globalized in modern times. This is not because companies were successful in marketing clogs; it is because clogs are truly unique, something that cannot be felt unless you check them out for yourself. It also can be attributed to the fact that Swedish clog for women are available in many variants such as clog sandals for women, clog boots, clog wedges and many more.
But what is this tradition we speak of? What differs modern clogs from ancient clogs? What is their legacy?
Clogs: A Tradition from Ages Ago
Back in the 12-18th century when clogs were in much use among regular people of Europe, especially Sweden and Netherlands, they were usually regarded as worker shoes because they didn’t have the elegance, style or attractiveness of modern wooden clogs. They were simple shoes that had just one purpose; protect the feet from external injury and dirt. Farmers and workers wore them to protect their feet against accidents and elements, and these shoes were widely regarded as pheasant shoes.
They were carved out of a single block of wood and handmade, hence there were not many people who were making clogs. It was a skill that was passed down the clog making families; hence each clog maker had their own skills for making them. They were made only from alder, birch or willow, depending on the locality and geographical region where the wood was sourced from.
Dutch Clog vs Swedish Clogs
A lot of people tend to confuse Dutch and Swedish clogs whereas their old designs are much different. Today, the majority of the clogs that are available in the market are of Swedish design, because it is something that was easy to transition to modern design as compared to Dutch clog. You see, Swedish clogs have an open back design and Dutch clog have a closed-back design. Closed-back designs don’t look that stylish on feet like open back designs do, hence most modern clogs are a derivative of ancient Swedish clog designs that were the first to publicize the style.
Fall and Rise of Clogs
Clogs, irrespective of their popularity among the general public, were not immune to fall. During the world wars, wood was in short supply, due to which clog fell in demand. Post-war, other materials such as leather and suede came into prominence, and a lot of people preferred those over wooden shoes that did not seem as premium as leather and suede shoes.
But in the 1970s, someone had the bright idea of combining leather and suede with wooden bases, creating the very first modern clog that was not made completely of wood. This was wildly popular in the 1970s and 80s, with many major actresses from Hollywood showing up publicly wearing clogs. While the popularity has died down over the years, they are still very much in demand because they are stylish and more durable than regular non-wooden
