Photo Archive: Straw sandals

In the past shoes were very expensive and straw sandals like these were worn even in the coldest weather. One of the first economic fruits of Liberation in 1949 was the ready availability of cheap plimsolls which were dubbed 'Liberation shoes'. It takes a couple of hours to make a pair of straw sandals, which may last for only a day or up to a week, depending on conditions underfoot. In hot summer weather, straw sandals are still worn by some older farmers, although flip-flops are now ubiquitous amongst the younger generations.