From Aunty Jo’s desk
I grew up in England where it is often cold and wet. Sensible shoes that keep your feet warm and dry aren’t always easy to put on. I remember lots of pushing and pulling, tugging and stretching, as I tried to squeeze my feet into my boots or shoes. Imagine my joy when I moved to Fiji and discovered that my feet were nearly always warm and dry. Suddenly I could get out of the house with my three children in ten seconds instead of ten minutes. Why? Because, a long time ago, someone invented something wonderful … the FLIP-FLOP!!
Who invented flip-flops?
Flip-flops are one of the oldest styles of footwear in the world. People have been wearing shoes like flip-flops for thousands of years. Wall paintings or murals on tombs and temples show that even the ancient Egyptians wore them.
The flip-flops we wear today are based on the Japanese zori sandal. They became popular after soldiers from the Second World War took the design back to America.
Why are they called flip-flops?
Flip-flops got their name from the sound they make when you walk … flip flop, flip flop, flip flop.
When a word sounds like the thing it is describing, it is called onomatopoeia.
Are flip-flops safe to wear?
Flip-flops are comfortable, but you should try to wear other sorts of shoes too, because they don’t give your feet much support.
You should never wear flip-flops around machinery or power tools. It is best to wear closed shoes when you are cutting the grass.
Why do people love flip-flops?
They are cheaper than most shoes.
They are very easy to put on and take off. Very important when you are entering and leaving houses!
They are cool and comfortable on hot days. They are lightweight and flexible.
Why do you love most about your flip-flops?
Flip-flop art
The art work above is by a Nigerian eco-artist called Eugene Konboye who collects old flip-flops. After he has cleaned them, he cuts them into pieces and uses the different colours to create beautiful portraits. You can see more of his work online.
What are flip-flops made of?
Flip-flops can be made out of all sorts of materials … cork, wood, rubber and plastic. Most of the flip-flops we buy are made from a plastic foam material called EVA (ethyl vinyl acetate). EVA is very similar to rubber, but it is synthetic and non-biodegradable. That means that it will not break down or rot naturally.
The good news is that researchers are working to invent new types of flip-flops. One type is made from an algae-based plastic which is specially designed to break down in soil. Imagine flip-flops made from nama (sea grapes)! Perhaps we will all be wearing algae-based flip-flops in the future!
What can we do with old and broken flip-flops?
In PNG they make music by hitting flip-flops on the ends of bamboo or PVC pipes.
Ocean Sole is a non-profit organisation in Kenya, Africa. Their mission is to clean beaches and turn pollution into art. They aim to recycle over one million old flip-flops every year. That’s over 300,000kg of plastic.
Once the flip-flops have been washed, they are glued together and then hand-carved into colourful animal sculptures.
You can learn more by visiting their website at oceansole.com
I wonder where all the broken flip-flops go?
Three billion pairs of flip-flops are produced every single year. Every day hundreds and thousands of them wash up on the world’s beaches or end up in landfill, including our beaches here in Fiji. Did you know that every pair of flip-flops you throw away will take between 200 to 1,000 years to decompose?
Just think about that! That means that the flip-flops you are wearing right now, will outlive you, your children, your grandchildren, and many generations of great-great grandchildren.
How long do flip-flops last?
The average flip-flop lasts for about one year, maybe longer if you are lucky. It all depends on the quality of the flip-flops, how often you wear them, where you wear them and what you do while you’re wearing them. Some experts say that you should change your flip-flops every 3-4 months, just like you change your toothbrush. You should try and give them a good wash every so often. How long do your flip-flops usually last?
Fun flip-flop facts!
Flip-flops are banned on the Isle of Capri in Italy because they make too much noise!
The flip-flop or thong throwing world record is over 42 metres. I wonder how far you could throw your flip-flop? If you’re going to find out, make sure you are standing in a big open space. You don’t want your flip-flop to end up in a tree … or floating out to sea!
Flip-Flops by Nancy Cote
Penny is excited. She is going to the beach for the day with Mama. But wait … where are her flip-flops? She can only find one. Oh dear, what will she do with only one flip-flop?
Penny soon discovers that there are plenty of things you can do with one flip-flop … use it as a fan, a scoop, a crab-catcher or a sand-writer. If you’d like to listen to this story, you can find it on Youtube.
What else do you think you could do with a flip-flop at the beach? Could you play flip-flop rugby?
Flip Flotsam
by Elspeth Murray
This is the beach
where the flip flops come
at the end of their
flip flop trip.
and where does a flip flop trip begin?
the floor of a flip flop factory;
on the shelf of a flip flop shop;
or the foot of a flip flop fan?
and what snaps the strap
of each flip flop
that finds its flip flop fate?
a flip too far;
a flop too fast;
or a slip that flapped it back?
and what does the sea say
when she sees another flip flop fall?
‘Oh, flip flop and flotsam
fair and foul,
I’ll freely float you all?’
Or, do the waters, wavey and wide
curse each clutch of clutter that comes on each tide
and storm up the sand with curses that worsen
at each
beach-tripping
trap-snapping
flip-flopping person?
Things to do …
Why not organise your own beach clean-up? I wonder how many flip-flops you would find? If you like writing, you could make up your own story about a missing flip-flop.
Try making music with a flip-flop. What can you hit it against, and what sound does it make?
Make your flip-flops fancier! Start by cutting out lots of fabric strips, about 3cm wide by 20cm long. Once you cut out a bunch of strips, you can start to tie them onto the flip-flop. Starting from the centre of the foot strap, double knot tightly. Keep doing this (keeping the strips very close together so no strap shows) until you have filled the whole strap on both flip-flops. Trim as desired!
Perhaps you could make a flip-flop Christmas tree or a flip-flop fence in your compound!
Why not make a flip-flop art gallery? Find an old flip-flop and give it a good wash. Then draw on it with a pen or paint a pattern on it with some left-over paint. Hang your flip-flop on the wall and amaze your friends and family.
