10 fun facts about shoes you didn't know about!

The surprising world of shoes

Wondering what the first shoes in history looked like? Or maybe you want to know the story behind the sneakers you love? Are you interested in shocking records? Do you want to know inspiring curiosities from the world of shoes?

You couldn't have done better! We have collected the most surprising shoe facts that you probably had no idea about!

#1 High heels reserved for… men

Almost every woman has a pair of high-heeled shoes in her collection. They perfectly match dresses and skirts, add sex appeal and are the perfect base for feminine styling.

You will certainly be surprised that initially high heels were reserved only for men and were used to ... ensure safety while riding. A low heel simply made the leg more stable in the stirrup.

Over time, this trend spread among the upper class, becoming an object of desire not only among men, but also among women.

Interestingly, historians have proven that the first woman to wear high heels was Catherine de Medici - an Italian princess who lived in the 15th century.

#2 The first shoes ever

Let's go even further back in time to look at the first shoes ever made. The oldest shoe found by archaeologists dates back to around 8,000 BC! It was a sandal made of cycad bark, a palm-like plant.

However, archaeologists are of the opinion that shoes could have been used even earlier. However, the materials used to make them were so impermanent that traces of them were irretrievably lost.

#3 Wedges as an invention from the war

Speaking of history, wedges were invented during World War II. The poverty caused by it and shortages in warehouses meant that the Italian designer could not in any way obtain steel to create the pins.

It was then that Salvatore Ferragamo had the brilliant idea to experiment with ... cork. He attached it to the sole of a woman's shoe, creating the world's first wedges.

#4 From tires to… sneakers

Sneakers were created thanks to an invention from 1839. It was then that the American tire manufacturer - Charles Goodyear - discovered that heated rubber with the addition of sulfur becomes elastic and durable. This resulted in the creation of shoes with a rubber sole.

Thanks to the fact that moving in them was really quiet, they were called "sneakers", which in English refers to sneaking.

#5 The most expensive sneakers in the world

In 2020, at one of the auctions, a bidder broke all previous records and won a pair of sneakers for ... 560,000 US dollars! 

Best of all, the shoes were initially estimated to sell for $100,000-$150,000, but the original Air Jordan 1 worn by Michael Jordan himself signed by the basketball star fetched much more! 

For comparison, the most expensive shoes in the world sold for $660,000. It was a pair of ruby ​​slippers that Judy Garland wore in The Wizard of Oz.

#6 Uneven stats

Did you know that the average man owns 12 pairs of shoes? For comparison, the footwear collection of a statistical woman has as many as 21 pairs.

#7 Record collections

Do you think your other half has too many shoes? Unless couples can be counted in thousands, you can rest easy!

One of the most impressive collections belongs to pop icon Céline Dione. The number of shoes he owns is close to 10,000. The star stores his treasures in a special warehouse in Las Vegas.

Attention! Addiction to buying shoes is a real problem. If you have fallen into the trap of shopaholism, contact a specialist who will help you fight addiction.

#8 A small step for a man…

Neil Armstrong, who landed on the moon, famously said after his encounter with its surface - "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." Interestingly, the shoes in which he went down to the moon stayed there for good, and it was no accident! 

The footwear of the legendary astronaut left on the moon was intended to compensate for the extra weight of the moon rocks that Armstrong took with him back to Earth.

#9 The largest shoe size

Some say size doesn't matter. When it comes to shoes, we absolutely cannot agree with this statement. Robert Wadlow, the tallest known man in history, was probably of a similar opinion.

Due to acromegaly, he measured 2.72 m, and the shoes he wore were in size ... 71!

#10 Right or left?

According to some kids, it doesn't matter if the left shoe goes to the right foot or vice versa. Shoe manufacturers before the 19th century were of a similar opinion. The shoes created at that time were designed to fit both the right and left foot.