Flip-flop (footwear)
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- This article is about the type of footwear. For other meanings, see flip-flop (disambiguation).
In footwear and fashion, flip-flops are a kind of flat, backless sandal that consist of simple soles held on the foot by a V-shaped strap that passes between the toes and around either side of the foot, attached to the sole at three points. In Australian English these are known as thongs. In New Zealand English they are known as jandals. In Hawaii, flip-flops are known as slippers.
Flip-flops periodically become a fashion rage in the West: they are immensely popular as everyday casual shoes, especially with teenagers and young adults, and are now available in a wide variety of materials (leather, transparent plastic, rubber, wood, etc.) and price ranges from US$50 to just under US$2.
In many developing countries, especially in the tropics, rubber flip-flops are by far the cheapest manufactured footwear available. In some places, domestically-produced sandals are available for the equivalent of less than US$1 and, despite their disposable design, street vendors will repair worn sandals for a small fee. Sometimes these flip-flops are made of recycled rubber tires, lowering the cost even more. They are many economically disadvantaged peoples' only footwear, and hence are worn for a wide variety of tasks, including farming, construction, and other heavy manual work.
Although flip-flops are one of the most simple, humble forms of footwear, many people consider them comfortable. Flip-flops made have the unique property of conforming to the foot structure of the wearer. Some people like to wear the sandals every day. Unfortunately, flip-flops are often not very sturdy and the straps may snap after moderate use. They can be fixed, but many people choose to just buy new ones.
The term "flip-flop" derives from the rhythmic slapping noise that the sandals make while slapping against the wearer's heels as he or she walks.de:Zehengreifer