Wooden Clogs- From Raw Materials till the Showrooms

There are interesting stories behind the history and origin of our shoes and clothes- Take the example of jeans or Swedish wooden clogs, both of which were born out of the entrepreneurial spirits of their makers who wished to create something useful. Levi Strauss felt the need to make tough and functional pants for the American mineworkers of his time and designed the first pair of indigo-blue jeans. Similarly, Swedish wooden clogs were designed in 1907 for the hard working agricultural and factory workers as heavy-duty protective footwear for both men and women. They are no longer limited to mineworkers or farmers, but are wardrobe essentials for men and women of all ages and stature and have reached distant places all over the world.

Taking the discussion on clogs further, we will elaborate on the design features, making and benefits of wearing these shoes.

Materials used:

Swedish wooden clogs and their other variants are made of wood and leather. The wood used is usually from lime, alder, aspen, poplar, and willow trees. These wood types can withstand the weight of the wearers’ feet and the force exerted on the heel while walking without undergoing any deformation. These qualities are achieved by dehydrating the wood to more than 90% of the moisture content is lost. The leather used is wet lasted to ensure a customized fit for all feet sizes. The sole is made of polyurethane which gives a slip-resistant and firm walking experience. As there is minimum usage of synthetic materials in clogs, their manufacturing process does not harm the environment.

Design features:

The the footbed of Swedish wooden clogs is designed keeping in mind the orthopedic requirements and the common feet shapes and types. The height of the heel is neither too high, nor too low. Leather uppers may be dyed or treated to achieve a glossy or matte finish. The heel type may vary- there are wedge-heeled clogs, normal high heeled clogs as well as classic heeled clogs (which are smaller in size).

Manufacturing process:

• Logs are sawn into planks and dehydrated.
• These dehydrated planks are then cut according to the sizes and milled to shape the bottom.
• The leather is inspected closely and clicked out.
• This is followed by the stitching of the leather uppers, straps, and buckles.
• The uppers and wooden bottoms are nailed together. Before the nailing process, the wooden bottom may be dyed.
• While the leather uppers are still moist (moist leather is more flexible), the last is inserted into the Swedish wooden clogs which are almost ready.
• Lastly, they are quality checked and set aside to dry in the drying room. Once they cool down, the lasts are removed.
• So the next time you go shopping, bring a little piece of twentieth century European history home in the form of Swedish wooden clogs.

Brand new vegan clog world

Ethical, eco-conscious fashion is the wave of the future, and the newest Swedish contribute to a global environmental crisis is a vegan-friendly clog. Swedish design is well-known for its simplicity and responsible choices. By using recycled, cruelty-free, and sustainable materials, good old Swedish wooden clogs have joined the vegan fashion revolution.

Made from scratch by the hand of skillful cobblers, vegan clogs contain no animal products such as leather and wool. Still, when it comes to style and quality, vegan clogs meet all contemporary needs in terms of design and comfortability. Both practical and fashionable women can choose among variety of classic clogs, clog sandals, heel clogs, and clog boots, from now on available in animal-free styles.

When it comes to craftsmanship, clogs in vegan leather are made in the best Swedish clog tradition. Wooden soles have anatomically constructed footbeds that provide an optimal angle for support and posture of the lower back. All styles of wooden soles (comfy, mid, or high heel soles) are traditionally made of alderwood, a type of wood known for its natural antibacterial characteristics and capacity to absorb moisture.

Vegan-friendly clog sandal uppers are made of 100%, top-quality synthetic materials such as a certified microfiber. Advances in synthetic materials and the production process have allowed more styles and options to make vegan wooden clogs as beautiful as traditional ones.

If you are looking for shoes that are eco-friendly and sustainable, clogs in vegan leather are an excellent choice. Both upper and lining are made in a sustainable material that is breathable, antibacterial, soft on the inside and often waterproof on the outside, while wooden bottoms guarantee comfort and stability. Usually made in small family-owned factories and workshops, production, and transportation of clogs reduce the carbon footprint compared to most of the footwear industry. These principles, paired with eco-friendly and animal-free materials, fun colors, and playful shapes, make vegan Swedish clogs footwear with a statement that you’ll be proudly wearing for several years.

We hope that the vegan fashion revolution will continue to influence designers and the fashion world as they see the beautiful possibilities of handmade, comfortable, and eco-conscious shoes. Until then, do not hesitate to step into the brand-new vegan clog world.

Statement-making Footwear for Women

Striking shoes with thick bottoms and clunky heels are fashion staples for women of all ages. Black clogs for women belong to this genre; they embody traditional Swedish craftsmanship and contemporary fashion sensibilities which give them a folksy yet chic appeal.

Why black clogs in specific?

When first crafted in the early 1900’s, clogs acted as work shoes for women and men. Made entirely of wood, the clogs from those times were heavy-duty, utilitarian footwear for both the sexes. As time passed, these shoes traversed countries and continents, undergoing regional modifications.

The most popular kinds were those which had wooden bottoms and leather uppers. For leather, there was cowhide and color options in the leather uppers were limited. Tan and black were common colors then.

While tan leather uppers on the wooden bottom looked well-coordinated and pleasant, black clogs for women and men were more popular.

The striking contrast of the color black against the textured wooded bottoms makes black clogs for women and men a universal favorite.

Some modern clogs have metal stud detailing around the sides. The combination of chunky wooden heels with stud detailing on black leather uppers give these clogs an edgy look.

For those who have a minimalistic sense of style, black clogs for women (without the stud lining) are ideal.

Why clogs (in general) are so popular?

Being one of the most versatile footwear for both women and men, clogs can be worn with any outfit.

For an outing during the day or a soiree at sundown, women are sorted for footwear if they own a pair of clogs.

The wooden heels in Swedish clogs are an iconic feature that not only increases the aesthetic value of these clogs but enhance the comfort for the wearer.

Unlike the conventional pointed heels (stilettos), these clogs are much more comfortable. There are no unpleasant aftereffects of wearing them. Most clogs are anatomically designed so that the wearer can get an optimum level of comfort.

What are the popular styles in clogs for women?

In terms of color, a vast variety of options are available nowadays. Colorful and vibrant clogs adorn the feet of women of all ages. Celebrities are no exception- many leading ladies of Hollywood are spotted in town, wearing the iconic clogs.

Clogs with suede uppers are also very popular. Apart from suede, Nubuck (Leather which has been rubbed to achieve a texture similar to suede) and patent leather are common materials used to craft the uppers of clogs.

Closed front, open back clogs in a slip-on style, sling backs, strappy-buckled clogs are some of the few styles popular among women.

If you do not own a pair yet, then you could start-off by getting a pair of black clogs for women for yourself.

Wooden Clogs — The Ultimate Style Statement For Women

Clogs are the latest trend to hit the footwear market, which is being widely adopted by both men and women. Clogs are footwear that doesn’t have shoelaces; one can simply slide their feet in it. Wood was used in earlier times to manufacture clogs, although, in recent times, a multitude of other materials such as leather and plastic are used. But wooden heeled clogs never particularly went out of fashion; they still have the same appeal as they had in the past.

Wood is a natural material, so it is environment-friendly, unlike other synthetic materials used to make footwear.

Wooden heeled clogs come in a variety of shapes and sizes. All of them have one thing in common; a wooden base. The wood used for making clogs is generally of high quality, and is coated with waterproofing resins as unprotected wood is prone to rotting on exposure to moisture.

Out of the many variants of wooden heeled clogs available in market, the ones with high heels and leather/linen uppers have the largest impact on the trend of wooden footwear. The combination of materials used in clogs makes it a worthy investment for women who love high heels.

A few benefits of using wooden heeled clogs are given below:

1. Helps in spine alignment: Wooden soles help in retaining body posture and make you stand straight. Wood also gives support to your lower-back, and helps in spine alignment.

2. Durability: Wood is a strong material; hence the clogs’ base will be intact even after long periods of time. This makes clogs the perfect footwear for daily usage as they won’t break easily.

3. Open backs: Clogs are unlike regular shoes or sandals; they don’t have any binding laces or straps built in them. One can easily slide in their feet to wear it. It also gives a lot of breathing space for your feet as the back portion of the clogs are open and have no encasement.

4. Wood as insulator: Wood is a natural thermal insulator, which prevents transfer of heat from the body to the surroundings. Hence clogs can be effectively used in summer to keep your feet cool, and in winter to keep your feet warm.

5. Dry feet: Footwear made of synthetic materials take a lot of time to dry up when they get wet. But wood used in clogs is waterproof; hence they dry up faster.

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.

Wooden Clogs — The Ultimate Style Statement For Women

Clogs are the latest trend to hit the footwear market, which is being widely adopted by both men and women. Clogs are footwear that don’t have shoelaces; one can simply slide their feet in it. Wood was used in earlier times to manufacture clogs, although in recent times, a multitude of other materials such as leather and plastic are used. But wooden heeled clogs never particularly went out of fashion; they still have the same appeal as they had in the past.

Wood is a natural material, so it is environment-friendly, unlike other synthetic materials used to make footwear.

Wooden heeled clogs come in a variety of shapes and sizes. All of them have one thing in common; a wooden base. The wood used for making clogs is generally of high quality, and is coated with waterproofing resins as unprotected wood is prone to rotting on exposure to moisture.

Out of the many variants of wooden heeled clogs available in market, the ones with high heels and leather/linen uppers have the largest impact on the trend of wooden footwear. The combination of materials used in clogs makes it a worthy investment for women who love high heels.

A few benefits of using wooden heeled clogs are given below:

1. Helps in spine alignment: Wooden soles help in retaining body posture and make you stand straight. Wood also gives support to your lower-back, and helps in spine alignment.

2. Durability: Wood is a strong material; hence the clogs’ base will be intact even after long periods of time. This makes clogs the perfect footwear for daily usage as they won’t break easily.

3. Open backs: Clogs are unlike regular shoes or sandals; they don’t have any binding laces or straps built in them. One can easily slide in their feet to wear it. It also gives a lot of breathing space for your feet as the back portion of the clogs are open and have no encasement.

4. Wood as insulator: Wood is a natural thermal insulator, which prevents transfer of heat from the body to the surroundings. Hence clogs can be effectively used in summer to keep your feet cool, and in winter to keep your feet warm.

5. Dry feet: Footwear made of synthetic materials take a lot of time to dry up when they get wet. But wood used in clogs is waterproof; hence they dry up faster.

The Comeback of Clog Boots in the Fashion World

It was sometime in the 1970’s when clogs made a comeback into the world of fashion. Truth be said, they never completely disappeared from the fashion scene and today have become even more sought-after than earlier. Now they have become so popular that a number of variations have come out, one of which happens to be clog boots.

Sizes and Availability

Clog boots are available in different styles and the best part about them are their comfort and style. One can opt for ankle length or even thigh-high clog boots.

They are so comfortable that many ladies prefer wearing clogs boots over their favorite sandals and stilettos.

Clog Boots Today

Clog boots worn now have a modern and minimalistic design; some clog makers however craft stylish clog boots with fringe detailing and studs. These shoes give the wearer an edgy yet classy look.

Clog boots are available in a wide variety of materials such as canvas, leather or suede. Despite being available in a number of colors, the one which happens to be the most popular is black. The next most sought-after colors happen to be brown and tan.

These clog boots are mostly worn with jeans and trousers in the cold winter months. They can however be worn with skirts, leggings or any other casual attire. There is no strict rule regarding the outfits women can wear with them.

Any shoe rack looks complete once a pair of clog boots have been added to it.

Conclusion

When compared to others, clog boots last a lot longer. The wooden sole and high-quality leather ensure both comfort and durability. They also look and make the wearer feel great.

People usually tend to be wary about buying things online because the products which they want are usually not available. This is however not the case with clog boots because there are a number of manufacturers who sell online. These clog boots are available in a number of sizes, designs, materials, and colors as well. Whatever be the shoe size or the style one is looking for, you can be sure to find them online. This why online stores score over conventional ones when it comes to buying clog boots.

You can be sure to find the pair which you have always wanted. So go ahead and buy your favorite pair of clog boots.