4000BC

The first flip-flop is created by Egyptians, a lightweight sandal made of papyrus and palm leaves. There are depictions of flip-flops in Egyptian murals.

1500BC

The Chinese and Japanese discover the comfort of wearing slippers and make them out of rice straw.

The indigenous population of Mexico also invents its own version using leaves of the yucca plant.

1185AD

The zori, a form of flip-flop with a thong held between the toes, becomes fashionable in Japan. Since then, Japanese children have traditionally worn them when learning to walk.

1945

The first flip-flop appears in the United States. After World War II, soldiers take Japanese zori back as souvenirs. Americans recreate them out of rubber. However, these cause blisters and are so poorly made that they do not last long.

1955

Beach-goers in America start wearing them as they are comfy in the sand. Flip-flops come to represent the California surfer lifestyle.

1960s

Instead of rubber, leather and bamboo are used.

1962

The birth of Brazilian footwear brand Havaianas – flip-flops made of synthetic rubber.

1990s

With the introduction of casual Fridays, people start wearing flip-flops to the workplace.

2000

Havaianas become popular around the world.

2003

Sales of flip-flops take off after supermodels such as Kate Moss  wear them and they even show up on the red carpet. This is also the year that Havaianas flip-flops start appearing in gift bags at the Oscars.

2006

Sharon Stone wears a pair of Alexandra Neel suede feather thongs to the Cannes Film Festival.

2007-2009

Magazines such as GQ and The New York Times Magazine tout the flip-flop as the It footwear of the century.

This article was first published in Urban, The Straits Times.