Footwear - Definition and Overview

High-heeled shoe

Footwear consists of garments worn on the feet. It is worn for a variety of reasons, including protection against the environment, hygiene and adornment. Often times, socks and other hosiery are worn under footwear. Footwear is sometimes associated with fetishism, particularly in some recent fashions in shoes and boots (see shoe fetishism).

Footwear Materials

Walking shoe

• Leather
• Plastic
• Rubber
• Textiles
• Wood

Footwear Components

Womens stylish shoes

• Grommet
• Sole
• Heel
• Air cushion
• Laces
• Tread

Types of Footwear

"flip-flop" sandal shoes

• Boots
  • Cowboy boots
  • Galoshes
  • Go-go boots
  • Kinky boots
  • Ski boots
  • Riding boots
  • Waders
  • Wellington boots
  • Winklepickers
• Industrial footwear
• Shoes
  • Athletic shoes (trainers) (sneakers)
  • Climbing shoes
  • Clogs
  • High heels
    • Platform shoes
    • Stiletto heels
  • Kitten heels
  • Mary Janes
  • Moccasins
  • Mules
  • Penny loafers
  • Pointe shoes
  • Skate shoes
  • Snowshoes
  • Tap shoes
  • Training shoes
• Sandals
  • Flip flops (thongs)
  • Slide
  • Slippers
• Swimfin (flippers)

External links

• The History of Footwear (http://www.podiatry.curtin.edu.au/shoo.html)
• A project to produce customised shoes (both in size and in design) at a reasonable cost and in a few days from order. (http://www.euro-shoe.net)