Wooden soles. Trademark of Swedish clogs

What makes clogs popular worldwide? During the past decades wooden clogs became favorite work shoes of restaurant workers, doctors and nurses, and all those professionals who spend long working days on their feet. Known for their benefits for lower back and overall posture of the body, comfortable wooden clogs found their fans worldwide.

Traditional clogs are made from wood and leather, with a special attention to the anatomically constructed wooden footbed that provides an optimal angle for support and posture. This way, the foot is in contact with a natural material that absorbs moisture and allows the foot to breathe. Swedish clog enthusiasts also claim that wooden clogs are warm in winter and cool in summer.

The term clogs refers to all footwear that are made on natural wooden bottoms: clog sandals, clog boots, heel clogs and comfy bottom clogs. Although an additional layer of thick PU is sometimes added for increased comfort and stability, the anatomically shaped wooden sole is still the most important part of all shoes known as clogs.

The biggest historical competitors in the clog world are probably Dutch “klompen” and Swedish “toffels”. Traditionally, alderwood has been considered the best wood for making Swedish clogs, while traditional Dutch clogs typically were made out of alder, willow or poplar wood.

Alderwood is one of the softest hardwoods around and is sometime referred to as a semi-hardwood.  On a hardness scale, it ranks just above pine and poplar. Because it is straight, and still soft enough for any molder knife to cut easily, alder is highly regarded by woodworkers. When stained and lacquered it looks pretty impressive, and at the same time it provides a natural antibacterial climate for the foot. All these characteristics make alderwood irreplaceable material in every clog workshop.

Like alder, birch comes from the family of Betulaceae. On a hardness scale, birch ranks at the top with hard-rock maple, and is often mistaken for maple. Because of an inherent resonant quality. birch is often used for the construction of musical instruments, but you’ll also find it on bottoms of traditional wooden clogs.

Although a type hardwood, poplar isn’t as hard as most hardwoods, with a hardness rating less than that of cedar (which is a softwood). Poplar is very easy to work in almost all regards, which makes it an ideal wood for hand crafting.  

Finally, lime has a fine and even texture, which is preferred for wood carvers. Easy to work, very soft and light, it’s one of the most suitable wood species for hand carving.

How Swedish Clogs Have Made A Graceful Comeback?

Swedish clogs have made a triumphant comeback in the past few years. Women have gracefully embraced clogs as one of the most fashionable footwear at present. With their elegant looks, ornate designs and orthopedic usefulness, clogs have become the best choice for women of all ages. Swedish clogs were back with a bang when they featured in the 2007 winter collection for Dutch designers Viktor and Rolf. 

The Dutch unveiled their set of high-heeled clogs in the catwalk which grabbed numerous eyeballs and set the tone for a new genre of fashionable footwear. The French were not to be left behind. Louis Vuitton and Chanel brought their own collection of Swedish clogs which featured a simple fabric upper construction fastened to a wooden heel.

Clogs became a hit after they featured in such catwalks and fashion parades. They garnered such attention that women began to buy varieties of clogs to team them up with different dresses. Clogs now come in a bunch of designs. There are open-back and closed-back styles. The platforms come in wood, cork or plastic options. 

The heels are low, high as well as flat versions. The upper part is constructed using various types of leather in an assortment of shades and colors such as brown, black, blue, pink and purple. They usually come in the strap and strapless options. There are also plastic clogs which are perfect for gardening activities. They are tough and you can just wash them off in case they get dirty.

Swedish clogs catering the nursing departments have become a popular choice for those professions where women are on their feet all day. Nursing clogs are specifically designed to provide ankle, knee and back support to minimize knee and back pain. These clogs have non-slip treads which provide solid grip and prevent you from slipping on wet hospital floors. Moreover, these Swedish nursing clogs are slip-on shoes which makes wearing them on and off a breeze.

They come in a variety of colors and designs so that you can juggle different dresses with them. The Swedish nursing clogs are light and are made of durable wood or heavy duty plastic materials. These clogs also have proper padding on the insides which significantly reduce discomfort and allow nurses to move throughout their workplace with ease.

Clog sandals are the latest obsession in shoe fashion

Wooden clog sandals have come a long way from their Dutch origins. Back then, clogs were hand-crafted and made completely of wood since they lasted longer, did not hold moisture and insulate the feet from the ground. Of late, the clunky wooden shoes have been reimagined into a stylish fashion accessory that is a common sight on fashion ramps. 

Clog sandals worn today are not entirely made of wood. The upper portion covering the top and the sides of the clog is made of leather or rubber while the heel is left exposed. The rubber type of clog sandal usually comes in a single color and has a strap that goes around the heel and is generally worn as a summer sandal. 

Clog sandals have evolved as a fashion accessory since they offer superior stability and leg comfort. They are easy to wear and easy to keep on the feet. Wooden clog sandals come in three different soles- classic, high and wedge.

Because of the ease, versatility, and protection it offers, wooden clog sandals have emerged as a staple footwear of many industry verticals. Professional clogs have to be extremely comfortable and durable since in many professions, wearers have to stand for long durations and it’s the feet that suffer the most in the process.

Nurses prefer clog sandals because they provide better lower back support and protect the feet from potential injuries like falling objects and exposure to harmful chemicals. In recent times, clogs are being manufactured in such a way that they suit a host of occasions.

There are dressy clogs, casual clogs, professional clogs and wooden clogs. Dressy clogs fall between professional and casual clogs. They are clunky and have high heels and are adorned with ornate designs and embellishments. Casual clogs are those which you can wear both indoors and outdoors. They have short heels which are made of wood.

The upper part is made of inexpensive material like nylon or cotton. Professional clogs are one of the most expensive clogs and come in leather or synthetic upper options. They are mostly worn by chefs and nurses and employ low heels and are comfortable too. Wooden clogs now are machine-made and come in flat or high heels. They can be worn with a casual attire or a formal one.

Clogging: A Dance Form That Will Always Remain In Trend

Clogging (dancing on wooden clogs sandals) is a traditionalfolk dance whose roots may be found in the European dances from the British Isles. Historically speaking, clogging was done to socially unite people in the Appalachian Mountains as early as the 1300s.

Since then, the clogging style of dance has been diffusing in various culture and has been enriching their celebration of the art of dancing. Various communities has accepted this dance form with open arms and added their own variations it. In the early 1400s, as clogging was migrated to England, the leather topped shoe replaced the wooden clogs. The modification went on further in 1500s, with wooden heels being attached to the leather shoe itself.   

Later on, the word clogging was replaced with more contemporary names like flat-footing, foot-stomping, buck dancing, clog dancing, jigging, or other terms popular among the local people. Through all these terms the primary emphasis was laid upon the prolific use of footwork. Also, many old fashioned clogging shoes were made entirely from leather or velvet, with wooden soles.  

Clogging shoes comprise of jingle taps. There are four jingle taps on each shoe, two of them on the heel and the other two on the toe.  One of tap is permanently fixed and the other one is loosely fastened. The loosely fastened one hits both the floor and the fixed tap while performing, or simply walking.

Tradition of clogging in USA

The roots of clogging in the U.S can be found in the Appalachian region and the Ozarks. In U.S, it is believed that bluegrass, which is based on Scots-Irish tunes of the Violin, is an offshoot of clogging.  

Popularly known as buck dancing in America, it was brought into trend by the minstrel performers in the late 19th century. Buck dancing became a source of charm for numerous festivals and fairs. The word buck originates from bockorau that can be traced to an Angolan word buckra, used to signify the white people. According to some sources, buck was a jig dance that was performed by the Irish immigrant sailors. 

Talking about the modern form of clogging, it is in assimilation of its traditional but is performed to a myriad styles of music ranging from bluegrass, modern country, rock music, pop, and hip hop. Today, competitive clogging competition are being held in the entire United States, majority being held in southeastern states. Also, there has been a shift from the flat foot dancing to dancing on the toes.