GLADIATOR SANDALS – FASHION FOOTWEAR HISTORY
The gladiator style of footwear has made a fashion comeback. Currently, we see it as more fashionable than its previous incarnation as a mere utilitarian sandal of the ancient world.
ANCIENT PIONEERS OF FOOTWEAR
Footwear in ancient civilization was introduced by the ancient Greeks, and it appears as though the history of footwear has come full circle. The initial version of shoes was the basis of what we are seeing in fashion trends today: basic leather soles tied to the feet with strappy leather cords. This type of footwear was made about 10,000 years ago; incredibly it took quite some time before people really were embracing the concept of wearing footwear. Today, you can recognize the modern sandal version as medieval moccasins, crafted in the original iconic style by https://medievalmoccasins.com/
In the very ancient world, most people chose to be barefoot because footwear was generally perceived to represent an unclean material world.
SHOES OF THE GREEKS
By contrast, the Greeks did believe in separating themselves from the Underworld. They felt the need to be identified as mortals, and as such the ancient Greeks believed that their securely laced leather sandals were a true symbol of their ideology. Shoes and sandals were made popular throughout the ancient world due to the influence of this great Greek culture.
Between 1000-700 BCE. The Greek craftsman was fashioning handmade leather open toe sandals for a diverse array of activities. Their main goal was form over function, but the Greeks did enjoy the added ideological benefit of “protection” from a fiery doom which they believed threatened them from the immortals in the Underworld.
Although the Greek construction of the strappy shoes may be considered primitive by today’s standards, the decoration was lavish. The ways in which the sandals were embellished included colorful dyes and rows of amulets in many forms. All classes of Greek people, including courtesans, soldiers, and philosophers began to acquire leather shoes into their everyday wardrobe.
FOOTWEAR OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE
Enter the Romans, who perfected the strappy sandal footwear. Today it is their version upon which designers have patterned shoes of modern times, even though the more ancient world had many different versions of shoes and foot coverings.
The Romans went on to conquer the Greeks, perfecting the art of shoemaking, subsequently creating the classically iconic “gladiator sandal” with which we are all so familiar today.
This Roman style of gladiator footwear featured many improvements: leather straps and the sole were strengthened with metal studs, and a leather upper piece was added. The resulting updated version of the Roman shoe was much more resistant to wear and tear. The craftsmanship of the Roman shoe maker enabled the Roman army to travel further on foot as they maintained and controlled their growing empire. Good craftsmanship was important to prevent foot pain and bunions of the soldiers as they marched hundreds of miles, over all types of terrain through Europe and lands of Celtic peoples.
The Roman gladiators, in addition to Roman soldiers, also benefitted from the updated leather sandals because their performances during combat were improved. The unique footwear of these prestigious gladiators came to symbolize great strength and courage of the iconic Roman fighter. Interestingly, their shoes also were a source of pride for the Roman Empire.
Elite classes of Roman people wanted to appropriate the prestigious qualities of the leather strappy open toe sandal, without risking the hazards of a fighting pit. The fashion-conscious privileged set were known to commission luxurious custom versions of the leather footwear to display their status and pride within their society. Custom shoes were commissioned to feature hues and embellishments that were prohibited to the rest of the populace.
SANDALS IN OUR MODERN ERA
Amazingly, the art and craft of making gladiator shoes was lost for a thousand years after the Roman empire fell. But this ingenious shoe came to life again in our modern 20th century world; the classic gladiator sandal began appearing on fashion runways in the 1960’s. The unconventional fashion style of the 1960’s hippie movement popularized the gladiator strappy shoe with its classic origins and unique flair. The contemporary high fashion iteration of these shoes also shaped the sandals we see in today’s popular medieval inspired fashion, such as medieval moccasins.
The gladiator sandal continues to be a strong fashion and wellness product, also helping people today who suffer from foot pain, plantar fasciitis, bunions, club foot, fibromyalgia, bone spurs, and other ailments.
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