Flip-flops are derided in some circles as embodying all that is wrong with contemporary menswear—comfort-obsessed, excessively casual, and throwaway. However, since 2006, flip-flop sales in North America have outpaced those of sneakers. Flip flops have changed the way that casual footwear is worn, whether you call them tops or flops. But why did men wear them in the first place?
Today, we discuss the development of flip-flops and their ancestor, the sandal. We’ll track them as they developed into the 20th century and as their popularity skyrocketed beginning in the early 2000s. We’ll explore the history of men’s flip-flop wear as well as its position within traditional fashion, since, believe it or not, they do have a place.
The origins of flip flops
Let’s start by going back in time to examine the origins and evolution of the flip-flop. One of the earliest shoe styles are sandals, the forerunners of flip-flops. A collection of footwear made of woven fibers that was discovered in Oregon’s Fort Rock Cave may be 10,000 years old. The origins of flip flops
Let’s start by going back in time to examine the origins and evolution of the flip-flop. One of the earliest shoe styles are sandals, the forerunners of flip-flops. A collection of footwear made of woven fibers that was discovered in Oregon’s Fort Rock Cave may be 10,000 years old.
Ancient Egypt produced some absolutely amazing footwear. Only the wealthy and powerful people in ancient Egypt wore sandals, whereas the majority of people went barefoot. As a result, some of them were elaborately decorated, such as those that originated from the tomb of illustrious pharaoh King Tut.
You can observe that the toe post design between this specimen, which is roughly 3,000 years old, and contemporary flip flops hasn’t altered much when comparing construction.
Of fact, the design of a sandal could differ substantially depending on its use and region. Looking at the statute fragment from the first or second century A.D., we may see an image of a Japanese samurai wearing a pair of tied-on waraji and a glimpse of a Roman military sandal.

In the West, sandals continued to be popular far into the early modern era. They were frequently worn as a cheap day shoe for travel or practical purposes. Even Shakespeare makes reference of them. “How am I, your real love, to distinguish myself from another? By his cockle head, his staff, and his shoon sandals.
For our purposes today, let’s fast-forward to the middle of the 20th Century. Raphael will explain more about sandals and why they aren’t preferred for classic style in a separate guide.
late 20th century
The custom of wearing zri as house shoes was allegedly established by allied forces stationed in Japan after World War II. Japanese slip-on sandals known as zori developed from the aforementioned waraji. Japanese zri had to be created out of rubber due to wartime restrictions near the end of World War II; after the war, these rubber zri could be produced at a low cost and marketed all over the world.
The name “thong” refers to a leather strap, like the one on these shoes. However, “jandals” was also occasionally used as a mashup of “Japanese sandals.”
In North America, the phrase “flip-flops” first entered general usage in the late 1960s as an onomatopoeic reference to the sound they produce while worn.
The Brazilian business Havaianas began mass producing these zri-like rubber sandals in 1962. Their name, which means “Hawaiians” in Portuguese, derives from the fact that they have distinctive blue and white coloring and that similar style sandals were frequently seen on the beaches of Hawaii, which does have a significant Japanese immigrant population.
Within a few years, Havaianas became one of the most well-liked shoe designs in Brazil, where they were initially linked with the working classes. Alpargatas, the company that owns Havaianas, patented their design in 1966. And in all actuality, the flip-flop as we know it today was born.
For the majority of the 1950s and the beginning of the 1960s, beachgoers continued to favor more conventional shoe styles like boat shoes, the canvas Keds in a 1962 advertisement, and espadrilles like those worn by Alain Delon in Plein Soleil, a 1999 early adaptation of The Talented Mr. Ripley that generated a style review.
Flip-flops appeared poolside, were popular among surfers, and even received a fashion nod as the 1960s progressed.mention in the 1964 Beach Boys song All Summer Long.
Flip-flops and other comparable casual shoes’ appeal grew over time. Entrepreneur Jay Longley started producing leather and rubber flip-flops by hand in his Laguna Beach, California, house at a rate of roughly 15 pairs per day in the early 1970s.
He established Rainbow Sandals in San Clemente, California, in 1974. Its production facility, which is still operational today, could turn on about 1,200 lights per day.
Doug Otto and Karl Lopker, two University of California, Santa Barbara students, began selling their own flip-flops around the same time. They called them “Deckers” because the soles’ multiple layers resembled wooden decks.
Late 20th Century
In 1984, Reef Sandals was founded by Argentinian brothers Fernando and Santiago Aguerre after they moved to La Jolla, California. Reef products were originally manufactured in Brazil like Havaianas, and this connection was emphasized in Reef advertising.
20th century late
Fernando and Santiago Aguerre, brothers from Argentina, settled in La Jolla, California, and started Reef Sandals in 1984. Similar to Havaianas, Reef products were first made in Brazil, and this relationship was stressed in Reef advertising. adventures like walking or climbing.
Century 21
Flip-flop producers made a modest effort to sell their products as totally acceptable day shoes in the early 2000s once the leisure market was saturated. Some of the first people to embrace this fad were kids and teenagers.
When some Northwestern University lacrosse players chose to wear flip-flops to a ceremonial photo with President George W. Bush in 2005, it led to a mini “sandal crisis” throughout the country. But in 2011, only a few years later Barack Obama became the first sitting US President to appear in public wearing flip-flops at an ice cream parlor in Hawaii.
Flip-flops had been a familiar sight on men’s feet for roughly ten years by this point, being worn by regular guys running errands or doing chores as well as by celebrities like JC Chasez and Justin Timberlake of NSYNC, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Liam Hemsworth.
Today, flip-flops are widely accepted as an essential part of menswear. Even some high-end labels have entered the flip-flop market, such as Giorgio Armani ($550), Louis Vuitton ($350), and Gucci ($320). Flip-flops have a long way to travel to get from Brazil’s favelas to the high-fashion runway. Flip-flops do have costs, but those are the only ones.
Many flip-flops are viewed as disposable items because of their carefree and wild attitude. Three billion flops are produced each year, and many of them are immediately discarded, making up up to 25% of the ocean’s pollution in some areas.
Recognizing this sad reality, several sustainable flip-flop companies have been founded, including the Hawaiian-based brand OluKai in 2006.
Why Men First Wore Flip-Flops
After covering the flip-entire flop’s history, from beach-going bobble to high-fashion footwear, let’s pinpoint the reasons why males first started donning them. Some of these points were covered in our “Why Did Men Stop Wearing Dress Shoes?” essay, but for the time being, we’re limiting ourselves to sandals and focusing solely on flip-flops.
Holiday Culture 1.
Traveling for vacations and holidays became more accessible than ever after the Second World War, especially to far-off exotic countries with beaches as a preferred getaway location. Vacationers would quickly learn to pick up local fashion because there was no standard wardrobe because modern holiday culture was still evolving.
Even while we adore leather dress shoes, we must acknowledge that beaches and this shoes don’t go well together. Flip-flops were liked because they were inexpensive, simple to put on, and great for hot regions. These flip-flops were frequently brought home as a memento of the trip and for sporadic use due to how convenient they are to pack. These beach accessories frequently find their way into wearers’ normal wardrobes, especially when they start to miss the ocean and the beach lifestyle.
Beach Culture 2.
The carefree, enjoyable way of life that beach culture popularized quickly developed into its own ethos. It was evident that individuals wanted to unwind and take in a more relaxed, beachy atmosphere from the presence of Salt Life decals, Margaritaville eateries, and the beach country musical subgenre beach lifestyle, even when not at the beach.
And wearing flip-flops on a regular basis was one method to do it. The upshot was a rising acceptance of flip-flops outside of swimming pools and beachfronts. This trend collided head-on with the growing casualization of menswear, which we covered in more detail in another guide handling the fall of classic menswear.
Social Casualization 3.
Workplaces followed society’s trend toward lax dress, but considerably more slowly. Many of the new industries that emerged in the 1990s and 2000s, particularly those in the computer and digital sectors, were more amenable to workers’ requests to dress more casually at work by forgoing suits and Oxfords in favor of T-shirts and flip-flops.
These tech industries, like flip-flops, grew up in California’s warm climate, and that beach-life mentality made its way into Silicon Valley boardrooms with the aid of more utilitarian capitalism that didn’t really care how employees dressed as long as they showed up every day and got the job done. Flip-flops quickly gained popularity as a professional footwear option.
4. Comfort as a Priority
The fact that flip-flops are more comfortable than traditional shoes is a common denominator in both the appeal of flip-flops as a whole and the casualization of menswear in general. The majority of contemporary flip-flop manufacturers have focused their marketing efforts on emphasizing this point—construction or design to make their goods appropriate for all-day wear.
Especially when compared to a well-made pair of dress shoes, we haven’t exactly found flip-flops to be comfortable enough for all-day wear from personal experience. The lack of support can cause physical problems for many people, but this hasn’t done much to change the widely held belief that flip-flops are significantly more comfortable because of their lightweight construction and intense ventilation, which are said to mimic the sensation of being barefoot.
5. The Heroic Body
Finally, we’ll provide a final justification that dates all the way back to the invention of the shoe for why males first began donning flip-flops. When flip-flops initially became popular, young men were obsessed with getting the chiseled and ripped beach body of Charles Atlas.
And as the flip-flop gained popularity starting in the 2000s, the urge to seem like muscled musicians, ripped reality TV stars, and the newest heartthrob superheroes has only been stronger. Flip-flops may be an extension of the desire to wear athleisure because they highlight your build, showcasing the hard work you put into achieving the ideal body. With more and more men committed to healthy living and consistent gym visits.
The flip-flop exposes more of the body than shorts or sleeveless tops, which may account for their appeal to young, athletic celebrities. Flip-flops may be similar to the ancient sandals that the Marvel heroes and gods wore in this regard.
As previously indicated, these producers promoted these flip-flops as everyday clothing, which aided these social movements. So it’s not difficult to understand how flip-flops gained such a stronghold in menswear thanks to natural desire and a little manufactured push.
Are Flip-Flops Acceptable in Classic Style?
So the question is, should someone interested in classic fashion wear flip-flops? We’re still going to have to concur with Raphael’s evaluation in our “19 Things Men Should Never Wear” post.
And don’t worry if flip-flops aren’t your thing. There are numerous beach-friendly alternatives to the traditional look. Two of our favorites were portrayed by James Bond actor Sean Connery in the 1965 movie Thunderball. He also sports a pair of classic espadrilles for a more formal, substantial appearance in addition to a pair of straightforward leather sandals that offer all the airiness of flip-flops with a more secure fit and classic designs.
Conclusion
We hope that after reading about the history of flip-flops, you will have a clearer idea of why men first started donning them, as well as their place in regard to traditional fashion. I personally enjoy wearing flip-flops when I’m on a boat.