Who brought wooden clogs back into fashion? Is it a fashion house or is it our FOMO?

Fashion moves in a circular fashion and every trend that has been deemed out of fashion eventually finds its way back. Clogs are one of the most unpredictable comebacks. Camille Charri&egrave;re once called the public&rsquo;s hesitant reaction Clogophobia, a feeling that has been on the rise since Herm&egrave;s put wooden clogs on the Spring/Summer 2021 runway and pushed the world of handmade accessories into a new orbit.
This shoe shape was not born on the runway but out of the practical needs of Nordic life, then spread to Sweden and Japan and took its place as the final milestone of style associated with the Scandinavian spirit. As Copenhagen Fashion Week became more culturally significant, it was no surprise that Bottega Veneta created the Puddle Boot and reinterpreted it into a comfortable indoor version.

History of clogs

Clogs are part of the Dutch costume tradition, often appearing in historical reenactments or folk art performances. The oldest examples found near Amsterdam have been carbon dated to around 1230 AD, although it is likely that the style of footwear has a much deeper history, possibly even descending from Roman soldier's shoes, though of course not as refined as the later Scandinavian versions.
The first recorded shoemaker making a pair of clogs was in 1570. From that point on, every city had artisans who could complete a pair in three hours. Clogs initially served as protective footwear for carpenters, farmers and laborers in vulnerable environments. The slightly upturned toe protected the toes and allowed the wearer to move freely across wooden surfaces.
The distinctive sound clogs make when they hit the ground makes them a good choice for tap dancing. Alder does not conform to the foot&rsquo;s structure, but it does provide protection from the heat in the summer and keeps you warm in the cold months. With today&rsquo;s manufacturing technology, clogs are much softer and more comfortable than their predecessors.
Today, clogs are a cultural icon of the Netherlands. Along with tulips, they are the country&rsquo;s most recognisable souvenir. The Netherlands produces around a million pairs of clogs each year for tourists.

Clogs in the 70s and Today

As transcontinental trade increased in the United States in the 1970s, the creative spirit of the Scandinavian countries began to flourish. This imprint was evident in the handmade wooden soles of clogs, combined with the free-spirited and rebellious spirit of hippie culture. Men and women alike chose clogs and many went barefoot, believing that the wooden surface in direct contact with the skin could create a state of freedom. The appeal of clogs was born from the very disobedience of the wood, which refused to conform to the structure of the foot and forced the wearer to find his own balance.

The return of clogs on the runways today is split into two directions. One branch seeks to preserve the craft and spirit of the classic wooden sole. The other branch focuses on garden clogs, made of rubber or leather, as a contemporary interpretation of the traditional clog. This trend emerged from a stream that has legitimised tool-oriented slip-ons from Crocs to Birkenstock Bostons and Scholl&rsquo;s Clog Evo. Many designers have deliberately distanced themselves from the most basic and common image of garden clogs by reinterpreting them in their own aesthetic. Louise Trotter at Bottega Veneta presented a shiny version of the traditional Dutch clog in the house&rsquo;s iconic green and placed it next to soft, flowing dresses. Chemena Kamali at Chlo&egrave; gave the klompen a boho-inspired makeover with the Jeanette, studded with studs and a height-enhancing wooden sole. Ganni paired the shoe with outfits that resonated with cottagecore.
The garden clog trend has also entered menswear. Loro Piana introduced a slipper-like suede version. Nanushka brought garden clogs to the catwalk, pairing them with shorts and a functional jacket. Many designers have found common ground with this trend, having developed a passion for gardening. Dries Van Noten was passionate about the greenhouse that surrounds his home in Antwerp. Ann Demeulemeester spends much of her time in her garden after she leaves the catwalk. John Galliano sees gardening as a way to relieve stress and dependency. One of the earliest examples is Balenciaga, who in the 1950s created a white linen gardening outfit for Mona Bismarck, a fashionista who loved to tend plants.
The return of workwear has seen designers prioritise the technicality and practicality that this footwear offers. Garden clogs have gone from being a garden accessory to a luxury choice favoured by celebrities such as Jennifer Lawrence, Bella Hadid and Rihanna. They have helped catapult garden clogs into the &lsquo;it shoes&rsquo; of the moment and create an interesting cycle between the handmade history of wooden clogs and their contemporary versions in fashion today.

Clogs: The Season’s Most Unpredictable Style Comeback

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