History of Shoe in Timeline
Shoes are footwear designed to protect and comfort human feet. While feet are adaptable, they're also vulnerable, making shoes essential for protection. Initially, shoe design prioritized functionality, but over time, fashion became a significant factor. Certain shoes, like steel-toe boots, serve as safety equipment in workplaces like industrial sites.
1902: First Ban on Foot Binding in China
Chinese feminists called for an end to the use of foot straps, resulting in a ban in 1902, which was soon repealed.
1910: Development of Stitchless Shoe Manufacturing
A process for manufacturing stitchless, glued shoes called AGO was developed in 1910.
1911: Second Ban on Foot Binding in China
The Nationalist government in China banned foot binding again in 1911. Although effective in coastal cities, countryside cities continued without much regulation.
1916: U.S. Rubber Company Consolidates Brands Under Keds
In 1916, The United States Rubber Company consolidated its various rubber-soled shoe brands under the name Keds.
1938: Discovery of Sagebrush Bark Sandals
The earliest known shoes, sagebrush bark sandals dating from approximately 7000 or 8000 BC, were found in the Fort Rock Cave in Oregon in 1938.
1948: Construction of the Haines Shoe House
Mahlon Haines, a shoe salesman in Hallam, Pennsylvania, built a house shaped like a work boot in 1948 as a form of advertisement. It was rented to newlyweds and the elderly.
1949: Enforcement of Foot Binding Ban by Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong enforced the ban on foot binding in 1949, which continues throughout contemporary times.
1962: Death of Mahlon Haines and Repurposing of the Shoe House
Following Mahlon Haines' death in 1962, the Haines Shoe House was repurposed as an ice cream parlor, a bed and breakfast, and a museum.
1964: Nike Founded
Nike was founded in 1964 by Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman, introducing advancements in running shoes like rubber waffle soles and breathable nylon uppers.
1968: Introduction of Velcro Straps on Sneakers
Puma SE introduced the first pair of sneakers with Velcro straps instead of shoelaces in 1968. These became popular in the 1980s.
1969: Chuck Taylor Inducted into Hall of Fame
Chuck Taylor, the developer of basketball-specific shoes known as Chuck Taylor All-Stars, was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1969.
1973: Mondopoint Shoe Sizing System Introduced
The Mondopoint shoe sizing system, which measures both foot length and width, was introduced in 1973 by the International Standard ISO 2816:1973.
1975: ISO Standard for Mondopoint Length Grading Published
In 1975, ISO 3355:1975, a standard for length grading within the Mondopoint system, was published.
April 1985: Nike Releases Air Jordan
In April 1985, Nike launched its own basketball shoe line, the Air Jordan, named after rookie Chicago Bulls player Michael Jordan.
1985: Release of The Man with One Red Shoe
The comedy film "The Man with One Red Shoe", featuring a man with one red shoe central to the plot, was released in 1985.
2003: Shoe Throwing at Saddam Hussein's Statue
When Saddam Hussein's statue was toppled in 2003, Iraqis struck the statue with their shoes as a sign of disrespect.
August 2006: Discovery of the Jotunheimen Shoe
The Jotunheimen shoe, the oldest article of clothing discovered in Scandinavia, was discovered in August 2006. It is estimated to have been made between 1800 and 1100 BC.
2007: Global Shoe Industry Market Value
In 2007, the global shoe industry reached a market value of $107.4 billion.
2008: Shoe Throwing at President George W. Bush
In 2008, a journalist threw a shoe at United States President George W. Bush as a protest against the war in Iraq.
2008: Discovery of World's Oldest Leather Shoe
The world's oldest leather shoe was found in the Areni-1 cave complex in Armenia in 2008. It is believed to date to 3500 BC and is made from a single piece of cowhide laced with a leather cord.
2012: Projected Growth of the Global Shoe Industry
The global shoe industry was expected to grow to $122.9 billion by the end of 2012.
2023: Discovery of Plant Fiber Based Shoes in Spain
Sandals and other plant fiber based tools, believed to be the oldest shoes found in Europe, were found in Cueva de los Murciélagos in Albuñol, Spain in 2023. They date to approximately 7500 to 4200 BC.