History of Clogs: The Shoe Style’s Evolution Through the Years (2024)

Table of Contents

History of clogs Designers who love clogs Clogs Today About the Author FAQs

Clogs, a distinctive type of footwear with a rich history, have evolved significantly through the years. This enduring style of shoe, characterized by its wooden sole, has been constantly reinvented and adapted to meet the evolving demands of footwear trends throughout the centuries.

Despite its traditional origins, the clog’s ability to blend seamlessly with contemporary fashion trends has secured its place in the 21st-century fashion and footwear landscapes. Modern interpretations of clogs incorporate a variety of materials and designs, from denim and leopard print to foam fur-trimmed and buckle-embellished styles.

The evolution of clogs, coupled with their persistent presence in the fashion world, demonstrates the relentless pursuit of comfortable and fashionable footwear across eras.

History of clogs

The first clog can be traced back to Europe, specifically Amsterdam, in the 1300s. The first recorded clog style, the traditional Dutch klomp, was carved out of a singular wooden block by craftsmen known as bodgers who possessed immense skill. The style was mostly worn by peasants and the lower class because it was cheap and did an excellent job of protecting the wearer’s feet from the elements.

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Factory workers and laborers wore clogs, specifically in agriculture, mining, and other trade jobs where comfort was vital. The shoe was renowned for its stability, allowing the front of the foot to fall forward without flexing due to its curved bottom and stiff construction.

The Roman calcei shoe and the Japanesegeta sandal have been cited as the wooden footwear’s predecessors.

The Spanishalbarcaand Frenchsabot clog variations were also exceedingly popular in Europe until the 1800s, when the wooden shoe’s popularity waned. In the 19th century, the inflexible style was utilized for its music-making abilities in a style of rhythmic dance plainly called clog dancing that preceded tap dancing. The style of dance is heavily rooted in Irish, Scottish and English culture and is still practiced today.

Following its entrance into the world of music, the clog style picked up steam in the 70s and 80s thanks to a Swedish variation called a träskor, which featured an open back, leather uppers and durable wooden soles.

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Paired with psychedelic florals and bell bottoms, the träskor style of clog was quickly embraced thanks to its relaxed and easy-going attitude that echoed the “hippie” counterculture of the time.

Connie, Mia, Sven and Bastad were just some of the popular clog brands of the 70s. Each brand offered eager fashion-forward audiences a variety of earth-toned silhouettes, sometimes fitted with florals and fringe, at affordable prices. Adam Faith, Brian May, Freddie Mercury, Carole King, Eva-Marie Saint and Melissa Gilbert were just some of the celebrities that gravitated towards the style during its peak.

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The 90s and 2000s further embraced the clog style. Founded in 2002, Crocs was one of the most prominent brands to take on the clog style, making for the most notable development in the silhouette’s success. Embracing its naturally clunky and awkward silhouette, the clog thrived within those decades, seen on the runway via Viktor and Rolf in 2007 and Chanel in 2010.

Designers who love clogs

The polarizing style made its way onto runways as early as 2003. Viktor & Rolf’s autumn 2007 show featured a reimagining of the clog, seen on models outfitted in garments strung up with studio lights.

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A year later, Stella McCartney showed her interpretation of the silhouette during a spring 2008 show accompanied by bohemian-inspired wears. Chanel’s take on the clog for then creative director Karl Lagerfeld’s spring 2010 showing was softer, akin to the aforementioned backless Swedish träskor, featuring wooden soles and neutral leather uppers.

In 2015, Givenchy embraced the style, offering it a grungy spin in leather during the brand’s spring 2016 menswear showing.

Balenciaga famously riffed on the clog style under the helm of creative director Demna Gvasalia, paying homage to Crocs with the launch of their very own clogs fitted with sky-high platforms. Cast in bubble gum pink and bright yellow hues, the viral designer sensation retailed for $850 and was accompanied by Balenciaga-branded charms akin to Jibbitz.

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The Balenciaga clogs launched on Barneys’s website on Feb. 1, 2018, in two colorways that were cleared out before the end of the day. In hopes of tapping into another viral moment, Balenciaga released similar ultra-grungy Hardcrocs mules unveiled during the brand’s spring 2022 runway show. The clog meets mule silhouette was also hotly-anticipated before its release and features platform soles and silver hardware.

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Anna Sui, Betty Jackson, Christopher Raeburn, Christopher Kane, Gucci, Coach, Maison Margiela and Max Mara have come to include the footwear style in their runway shows, remixing the historic silhouette in unique ways.

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Clogs Today

In 2021, fashion and technology company and premium shopping application Lyst reported that searches for clogs were up by 124% compared to the same time last year. Furthermore, searches for wooden clogs rapidly increased by 65% month-over-month.

Lyst cited that some of the most popular searched clog styles of 2021 includedChanel leather clogs, theMIA Alma clogsandDolce & Gabbana’s heeled clogs.

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So, what makes the clog popular even today?

The “ugly footwear” trend is essentially to blame for the resurgence of clogs. Out with the old, in with the ugly. Many people are trading in their tried and true heels in digestible shades for “ugly” silhouettes. It’s an embrace of those styles that are more abrasive and statement-making.

What’s often deemed “ugly” in the footwear scene is uncommon and hard to understand, especially when compared to the average stiletto. Sandals, slides, chunky sneakers, flats, bowling shoes and clogs are all shoe silhouettes that have been dubbed “ugly” thanks to their divisive nature.

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Today, the clog style is widely embraced, having been spotted on some famous feet, including Rihanna, Kendall Jenner, Rosamund Pike, John Cena, Mario Batali, Whoopi Goldberg and Lucy Hale, among others.

Despite the changes the historic silhouette has gone through over the years, the clog has significant staying power, with no signs of dissipating any time soon. Popular brands that carry clogs include Crocs, Birkenstocks, Dansko, Swedish Hasbeens and Klogs, among others.

About the Author

Amina Ayoud is an Assistant Digital Editor for Footwear News, where she writes stories about everything from celebrity style to breaking fashion and shoe releases. Ayoud cultivated a love of all things fashion early in life thanks to a deep love of fashion history and the luxury industry. In her free time, Ayoud is a self-proclaimed fashion nerd and thriftaholic.

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History of Clogs: The Shoe Style’s Evolution Through the Years (2024)

FAQs

What is the history of the clog shoe? ›

Wooden clogs originated in Holland or Netherlands and spread to France, Germany and the Scandinavian countries. They became the most worn work shoes in Europe. The term “clog” comes from the word “calceus,” which was Latin at the time of the Roman Empire.

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How did shoes evolve over the years? ›

Like most other clothing items, shoes have evolved over time in how they are designed and manufactured. Shoes were originally made from very natural materials. They have gone from being simply a practical foot covering meant to protect the foot to, in many cases, being a status symbol and decoration worn on foot.

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What year were clogs popular? ›

In the 1970s and 1980s, Swedish clogs became popular fashion accessories for both sexes. They were usually worn without socks and were considered suitable attire for the avant-garde man.

Who wears clogs? ›

Clogs continued to be worn by agricultural workers well into the 20th century, as their sturdiness guarded against injury. To this day, wooden shoes are still a common choice for farmers and gardeners in rural parts of Holland.

What culture wears clogs? ›

Clogs, the iconic footwear of the Netherlands, were the shoes of choice for Dutch laborers of centuries past. The wooden slip-ons were sturdy, cheap and—when stuffed with straw—cozy and warm.

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What is the oldest known pair of shoes? ›

Housed in the collections of the Museum of Natural and Cultural History are several examples of sagebrush sandals from Fort Rock – the world's oldest known shoes. Dating back approximately 10,000 years and amazingly preserved under a layer of volcanic ash from Mt.

How old is the oldest shoe brand? ›

Eduard Meier GmbH (known as "Ed Meier") is a German shoemaking company. Founded in Munich in 1596, it is the oldest existing shoemaking company in the world. Today, their headquarters and main store are situated at Palais Arco, Brienner Straße 10, in Munich.

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Who wore the first shoes? ›

HUMANS may have been wearing shoes for well over 100,000 years, and other hominins like Neanderthals may also have had footwear. The suggestion stems from the discovery of unusual preserved footprints in South Africa, which may have been made by people wearing sandals.

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What is the cultural significance of clogs? ›

Historically, clogs were primarily worn by working people and the poor who couldn't afford leather footwear. These one-piece shoes were cheap to make, sturdy and pretty indestructible. Perfect for farmers and fishermen.

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What is the history of the Dutch clog? ›

Dutch wooden shoes (clogs or "klompen" in Dutch) are officially recognized as safety shoes in the Netherlands as they can withstand the penetration of sharp objects and concentrated acids. They date back to some 800 years ago as the oldest known pair of Dutch wooden shoes is believed to be produced around 1230.

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Why do they call them clogs? ›

It was no doubt the wooden sole of the clog that was responsible for its name. Much earlier, certainly from the fourteenth century, the more general use of the word was to any substantial and roughly shaped piece of wood, as in 'a Clog of an Oke' employed c. 1400 as a weapon.

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Why did Dutch people make clogs? ›

Why were wooden shoes made? and why do people in the Netherlands wear clogs? That are common questions we get here. Most people in Holland wear clogs in the garden and around the house. It's a waterresistant working shoe, easy to get on and of, provides protection.