Swedish clogs through the decades

Clogs or wooden shoes have been known for centuries. Many cultures used wood as a durable, cheap, and available material for making practical footwear. Throughout the history, many variations of wooden shoes have been used worldwide, and some of the most famous examples include Japanese Geta wooden shoes, Turkish Nalın or Bathing Clogs, Indian paduka, or Dutch klompen.

However, wooden soled shoes today known as Swedish clogs or “toffels” have been manufactured in wood and leather in southern Sweden for over 100 years. Used by generations of working men as safe, cheap, and practical shoes, in the second half of the 20^th century wooden Swedish clogs became a fashion trend as well.

There are several reasons why clogs became so popular in Sweden. Legend says that the wood provided good protection against the moody Swedish weather. Also, forests in southern Sweden provided plenty of raw material ideal for the production of this type of footwear. These are probably the two main reasons why so many factories started with clog crafting during the 60s and 70s. During the 1970s, several wooden shoe factories that made traditional women's clogs, started to experiment with more fashionable styles such as clogs sandals, high heel clogs, peep toe clog sandals, and clog boots.

In the 1970s containers were regularly sent to both North America and Europe. Swedish clogs known as “trätofflor” became a well-known concept and found their way into the fashion world.

The typical Scandinavian or Swedish clog is manufactured with leather uppers (almost exclusively from cow), and wooden clog soles. Wooden base is traditionally made from alderwood, although some producers also use birch, beech and lime wood.

For the last few decades, Swedish wooden clogs proved to be both fashionable and practical. Many chefs, medical workers, and other professionals embraced Swedish clogs since their natural wooden bottom soften the impact of walking on hard surfaces and provide an even support across the foot. Fashionable people recognized their authenticity and originality, and stylish clogs with heels, peep toe clog sandals, and clog boots became part of trendy fashion shows and fashion blogs. 

In Sweden, you’ll find wooden clogs near fireplaces, around dining tables, in gardens and everywhere where family and friends gather.

In short, if you are looking for fika, don’t forget to bring a pair of wooden clogs with you. 

Revisiting the Dying Art of Making Wooden Clogs By Hand

Wooden clogs for women and men have been produced by the Swedish and the Dutch for long, but there is a vast difference in the manufacturing process employed now and the traditional methods used in the past.

Most modern wooden clogs for women and men are factory-made, using dummy cast shoes as reference for designs.

Traditional clogs, which were mostly unisexual, were made by hand without using any automation machines. Each and every pair was made by an expert shoemaker by hand.

It took more time, but required more skill and precision.

This is a dying art that is already outdated in most clog-making communities as more and more shoemakers are shifting towards machine-based manufacturing for faster production.

This article outlines the steps involved in making a wooden clog by hand:

1. Selecting The Tree Trunk

Experienced shoemakers can determine the size and number of shoes that can be made just by looking at the tree trunk.

Usually, a rounded trunk can be carved into 2 pairs of large-sized clogs, while oval shaped trunks can be carved either into one small and one large-sized pair or two small-sized pairs of clogs.

2. Splitting a Wooden Log

The wooden log is inspected for faults and marked for splitting.

A fine log of wood can give about 5 usable blocks of usable wood for carving clogs. Splitting is done carefully using a cleaving hammer and chisels.

3. Trimming The Wood

After the log is split, two wooden blocks are selected, which form the left and right shoe. Both the shoes are to be made simultaneously so that they form the mirror image of each other. The outer bark is then chipped off slowly and carefully before starting the carving process.

4. Shaping The Shoes

A large, tapering knife is used to shape the two blocks of wood into shoes.

First of all, the front part of the shoes, called beak, is carved.

The heels are shaped after that, giving the shoes a rough outline.

Both the left and right shoes are carved together to avoid size mismatch.

5. Boring The Inners

The shoes are wedged firmly and holes are bored using a long knife and hammer. Boring is started from the heel side and the shoemaker slowly works into the front side.

A large drill-knife is used to scoop out wood from the deeper parts of the shoes.

6. Fine-Carving

A thin knife is used to carve out the finer details of the shoes and to remove excess wood. Other tools are used to sharpen the exterior of the shoes.

7. Finishing

Glass pieces are used to scrape and smoothen the shoe exteriors, after which, they are ready for coloring and treatment.

Look Like a Million Bucks with Heeled Clog Sandals and the Right Bag

Ever wondered how celebrities manage to look so good even when they are wearing something ordinary and normal?

Well, there is no secret to looking great effortlessly.

It all lies in how you decide your look and outfit for the day.

What most ladies do is spend hours in front of their wardrobe, trying to decide on what clothes to wear.

Once that is done, they put on their make-up and slip on any footwear that is lying in front of their eyes or at the top of their shoe rack and get going.

The same goes for the bag they carry.

To look like a million bucks without spending a million bucks, you need to give more thought to what you wear in addition to the clothes as they help to amplify your look and add stars to your personal style.

We are getting at accessories, bags, and most importantly, the shoes you wear.

It is important that the shoes which adorn your feet and the bag you carry complement each other as well as the outfit you are wearing.

It is not possible to own matching shoes and bags for every outfit you have because, unfortunately, good shoes and bags do not come at rock bottom prices. We are not even going to the high-end labels here.

Once in a while, splurging a bit doesn’t seem wrong, but you cannot afford to carry your limited-edition Gucci bag and your Louboutin’s every day, can you?

Heeled clog sandals are the best option when it comes to dressing up smartly and economically.

They look great and are so comfortable that you would be wearing them all year.

Mostly made of cowhide leather, these plain Jane shoes are more than what you may think about them at first glance.

Heeled clog sandals have heels made of wood, are chunky, and extremely versatile.

This means you can wear them every day, with every outfit, be it formal or casual, morning or evening and summer or winter.

About the bag, you can style your look with either an oversized tote bag or a structured handbag or sling bag in leather, faux, or patent or PU.

There are strappy clogs, completely closed clogs, and ones with an open back and closed front.

As large chunky shoes are the flavor of the season, buying more than one pair of heeled clog sandals in different styles will see you through the winters as well as summers.

Care advice for wooden clogs for women

Here we come up with some tips on how to take care of your women’s clogs and Swedish clog sandals. Care advice for wooden clogs are a little different from the advice that applies to ordinary shoes in that the sole is made of wood. Wooden shoes are lacquered on the sides and have naturally untreated wood on the footbed. The recommendation is to use a damp cloth and wipe the dirt and then allow the wooden clogs to dry in the shade at normal temperature (around 20 degrees Celsius). If a wet cloth is not enough, you can try using a little soap and maybe grind a little with really fine sandpaper but always do this carefully. Wood is a living material and must be handled with love.

If your clogs get wet in the rain or snow, it’s important to give them some extra care. Most of natural and brown bottoms are varnished which offers some protection from bad weather (keep in mind that the black stained bottoms are usually not varnished). If they get wet, let your women’s clogs dry at room temperature. Do not try to speed up the drying of the wood by putting them somewhere hot. And if your wooden clogs soaked in too much water, it’s best to fill them with newspaper or kitchen towel, and leave them overnight to completely dry.

How to take care of the leather depends on what kind of leather it is. A pair of women's clogs in suede should be brushed with a suede brush, while a pair of clog sandals in vegetable tanned leather must be handled very carefully as the leather can easily get stains from oils and shoe creams. Many clogs for women are made pigmented or patent leathers, which means that they can easily be wiped off with a damp cloth. Oiled and waxed leather can be a bit trickier to handle so it is best to read the instructions that came with the shoes or contact the store where you bought them for the right instructions.

Keep in mind that it is always easier and less risky to use cleaning products, creams and various wax products on leathers in black and other darker colors. These products can sometimes give the leather a darker tone, which is not always a problem, but it is good to be aware of this before using any cream or oil on your clog sandals. A final recommendation is therefore to always try new creams and oils in a small hidden spot on the shoes to see what effect it has on the leather. Of course, these tips apply not only to clogs for women, but also to slippers in larger and smaller sizes for men and children.

5 Reasons Why Heeled Clogs Are Better Than Stilettoes

Every a person has a unique sense of fashion; what may work well for someone may or may not work that well for the others. This sense of fashion is as unique as the different personalities people have because fashion is nothing but an extension of who we are and our personalities.

A a lot of factors define the choices that we make, but for most people, a simple logic tends to apply, which is- fashion and comfort need to go hand in hand.

Talking about fashion and comfort, women’s footwear has always been a matter of discussion and critique. There are stilettos on one end, and then there are heeled clogs on the other end of the spectrum of comfort.

Listed below are 5 good reasons why one should choose heeled clogs over stilettoes or any other footwear for that matter:

History:

Unlike most of the footwear options, heeled clogs have a flamboyant history to them that dates back to the 16th century. They have been worn by both the sexes in the past and now are worn mostly by women.

Stilettoes, on the other hand, have come to existence in the 1950s.

Versatility:

While stilettoes blend well with only a few types of attires, heeled clogs can be teamed up with a lot of outfits, ranging from formal wear like the suits and dresses to casual outfits like jumpsuits.

Heels:

The stilettoes are essentially pointed in nature and they require the whole body weight to be balanced on the tip of a narrow heel. Adding a little bit of height to the same can get very uncomfortable for women and is harmful for the knees as well.

Clogs on the other hand, distribute weight more evenly as their heels are like blocks that provide support to the feet. Moreover, heeled clogs help in maintaining a good posture as the body stays aligned while walking in them.

Uses:

The heeled clogs as discussed earlier can be worn with a lot of outfits and can thus be put under both the categories of formal and informal footwear. In case one is looking for formal footwear to wear to work and then wear the same to an evening out, clogs will be the best bet.

Contrary to that, stilettoes are more suitable to wear as dress shoes and are not ideal for wearing to work or for formal settings.

Durability:

Heeled clogs are generally made of quality leather and wood that have a longer the span of life as opposed to stilettoes that can be made from a variety of materials.

Most stilettoes have a metal shaft in the heel to provide balancing support to the wearer and have added molded plastic for reinforcement.

These reasons definitely work in changing the mindsets of women about comfortable yet stylish shoes to a great extent. They also prove that heeled clogs are a fashionable option for women of all ages and can also be a worthy and better alternative to the stilettoes.

4 Reasons Why Clog Boots Will Always Be In Fashion

Fashion keeps changing with every season and it is hard to keep up with it, especially if one is not inclined towards fashion naturally. The wardrobe requires a renewal practically every six months or even sooner, and suddenly, all that shopping is stacked up in a carton in the attic until those clothes and accessories are back in vogue again. While it is okay to update your outfits quite frequently, doing the same for shoes and spending on good footwear every month can be taxing.

However, there are a few items that will remain forever in fashion-

Clog boots are one such item in the world of fashion that has been around since a long time. The journey of clog boots that started from the mines and the farms of Pre-Industrial Era Europe to the present time, where it is everyone’s preferred choice in contemporary fashion has been a commendable one.

Here are a few reasons why clogs boots can never go out of fashion-

History

Clog boots have been around for a long time, and there isn’t another choice of footwear for men as well as women that have been in existence for this long.

Their classic and timeless design ensures that these shoes will always be popular.

The craftsmanship seen in the old clog boots has not been lost in the latest styles recreated by the leading designers.

Comfort

The comfort that these clog boots provide is unmatchable when it comes to comparing it with the other footwear available now.

For women, these shoes ensure comfort by providing adequate support to the arch and the spine, while for men, they make for comfortable wear by providing a snug fit, without suffocating the feet.

Suited for all ages

Clogs have been the universal footwear choice for men and women of all ages. The quality and the make of clog boots are also designed along with the same lines so as to ensure suitability for one and all.

Matches with everything

It is very rare to come across an item of fashion that works effortlessly with almost every piece of clothing.

The the best part about clog boots is that they are probably one of those very few items that can be found in almost every person’s closet. They work well with all kinds of outfits, ranging from skirts to shorts dresses for women and formals to casual wear for men.

Reasons Why Swedish Clogs are the Best Footwear Choice

In recent years, there has been a tremendous hike in the practical use of clogs, largely owing to their suitability for casual as well as formal occasions. This growth can also be attributed to the collective efforts of many Sweden-based clog brands that are reinventing the iconic clog sandals by adding urban street style and customized design.

Traditionally, Swedish clogs were made solely from wood, while modern clogs combine wooden soles/bottoms with leather uppers to ensure versatility and comfort.

In spite of the style and comfort that most Swedish clogs offer, it is essential to purchase clogs from an established brand as not all manufacturers design orthopedically correct shoes. After all, not all clogs are created equal.

However, the clog brands in Sweden are dedicated to manufacturing clogs that not only look great, but also provide a comfortable wearing experience.

In order to understand why Swedish clogs are the best footwear choice available, we have put together a comparison between clogs and other footwear types.

Wooden Sole

Many footwear types like Stilettos come with a rigid sole that holds the feet and toes of the wearer in a compromised and unnatural position. If worn for a long time, such footwear can cause ankle sprains and foot swelling.

On the contrary, Swedish clogs are orthopedically constructed, and designed to provide an even distribution of body weight across the foot. They help in maintaining a good body posture, providing extra protection and stability to the feet on slippery surfaces. Swedish clogs are a perfect footwear choice for working women who have to be on their feet all day.

High Heels Clogs

Although high heel shoes have their fair share of popularity in the fashion industry, they are also known to have long term health effects. They concentrate the entire pressure of the body on the balls of the feet through a downward force, thereby, increasing the possibility of foot pain. Over time, wearing high heels can also cause calf muscles to cramp.

 However, women across the world have found a solution to such problems in the form of clogs. Heeled Swedish clogs come with wide toe-boxes that are convenient to walk in and allow greater foot movement, thus, reducing the chances of falling. Moreover, heeled clogs also promote a good body posture as the body responds by arching the back.