Flip-Flops.

Though flip-flops may seem a current trend, their presence actually dates back to many locations in the ancient world.

Flip-flops were featured as far back as the stone age, where they were made of basic materials such as, papyrus, straw, and rawhide because of the simplicity of creating them. The crafting was very similar to today, a base with a strap attached and worn in between the toes. Flip Flops were a staple in Ancient Roman, Egyptian, and numerous other cultures.

Flip-flops first graced the U.S., however, after World War II, when soldiers returned sometimes with Zori, a form of Japanese footwear. This imported style could be found on beaches and poolside. In the 1960s, flip-flops were given their American name, derived from the sound they make on their wearer's feet, though the interesting shoes had already been deemed "thongs" in Australia and "slippers" in Hawaii. By the 1990s, Americans truly embraced the versatility of the shoe and flip-flops of quality materials such as wood and leather debuted, priced high above their beach-oriented predecessors.

Today, flip-flop sales are booming, with 2 billion in sales per year noted in the U.S., despite criticism from foot and ankle specialists who attribute the rise in foot problems in youth and younger adults with the ever-present flip-flop. Brands continue to create variations on the classic style to accommodate these concerns and less-supported versions are available nearly everywhere as well. In either case, it is doubtful that the flip-flop will go out of style in the near future.