Running barefoot is the new trend, barefoot shoes allow athletes to keep their feet healthy while running. Sounds luxurious when you consider that there are places all over the world where people don't even have money to buy "normal" shoes and have to walk barefoot...
From a prehistoric perspective, running with bare feet was man's natural form of running.
Today's modern footwear tends to prevent us from grounding ourselves. Walking barefoot trains the foot muscles and sense of balance and every step can give us a feeling of freedom. It couldn't be easier to get a foot reflexology massage, which is said to have many positive effects on the body.
Barefooting dates back to the Roman Empire, where fashion for wealthy Roman citizens included clothing, including footwear, while slaves and the lower class went barefoot. The Incas also walked barefoot in the mountains of the Andes of Peru, but also used sandals.
In the Andes we still see men and women working in the fields without shoes or wearing only rubber sandals. They never seem to have cold feet. What is behind this tradition? Can't they afford shoes?
The typical “Andean sandals” are worn when working in agriculture, livestock farming and other activities because they are so robust. They are called “Ojotas de jebe” and are cut from old tires. The name is derived from “Ushuta”, the Quechua word for the sandal used by the Incas. The comfortable, durable and resilient “recycled shoe” lasts for many years, supposedly decades, and costs next to nothing. It also makes a positive contribution to the environment.
There is a story...
... about this Peruvian creativity presented by Soc. Alfonso Canahuire Ccama in his book "Social History of Ichu". Accordingly, the people used to walk with the muleteers to Arequipa and other coastal cities. On the long journey, their sandals made of animal leather only lasted for the duration of the outward journey; they had to buy new ones when they returned. Jewelry and silversmith Damian Choque from Tunuhuiri Chico had seen many old tires being thrown away on one of his many trips to Arequipa. So he had the idea to make his own pair of Ojotas out of them.
This invention sparked enthusiasm among people and many of them traveled to Arequipa to bring old tires by train. The first to learn to imitate it were the brothers Aurelio, Pablo and Cipriano Flores. The Ojotas were sold as a novelty to the hikers and muleteers who passed through Ichupampa; the Icheños were very interested in learning how to cut the tires in order to make the sandals and offer them for sale.
...and now it's a tradition
In the famous festive parades and typical regional dances in the city of Cusco, this interesting footwear is an essential part of the traditional costumes and is worn by adults and children.
Over time, more and more emphasis was placed on modern, international shoes, and the upper class criticized the sandals, which highlighted the economic difference between the two groups. Commercials were made with the idea of flip-flops. Nike took up the theme and made shoes with their logo on them, although they cost a little more than 10 soles a pair...