| THE EARTH STORY
IS truth stranger than
fiction ... ?
This story isn't quite as bizarre as aliens landing
- but it does have it's origins way back in the sands of time ....
The Earth Timeline
Circa 1.6 million years ago
Homo
Erectus !
Man
walked upright for the first time.
The
origins of our skeletal shape and posture begin to be developed
by the evolution of man.
1957
Anne Kalso, a
young Danish Yoga instructor visits Brazil and is struck
by the superb upright posture of the local native population.
Intrigued, she notices that their footprints leave quite
a different impression in the sand. The heel imprint is deeper
than the front of the foot. Aware
of the similarity to the Yoga Mountain pose - achieved by flexing
the foot and lowering the heel - she begins to see a connection
between the benefits of Yoga and a way of walking ....
1957 - 1967
With
a passionate inspiration she sets about developing a shoe to emulate
these combined effects. A Portuguese shoe maker works closely with
Anne, and together they create a primitive sandal that places the
heel lower than the toe. For ten years, and with dogged intensity, they
pour concern, care and hours of hard work into refining the
design until they successfully create a final design that incorporates
all the natural demands of the foot and the body.
1966
Anne
Kalso opens her Kalso Minus Heel' Shoe Store in Copenhagen.
1969
A
young American couple on vacation in Denmark notice Anne's shop
and are very impressed by her Minus Heel Sandals. They strike
a deal to take them to the United States
1970
On
April 1st, Eleanor and Raymond Jacobs open the
first shop in America selling Minus Heel Shoes.
It's one of those enduring coincidences
that April 1st 1970 happened to be the very first Earth Day in
the States, and to attract the attention of the eco-minded hippies
who thronged onto the streets, Eleanor hit on the idea of advertising
EARTH SHOES in the window of her downtown Manhatten
store.
And thus was born a name, a fad and
a complete lifestyle !
1970 -1977
Earth Shoes burst forth on the public
- the demand increases ferociously. Lines form outside the
shop, franchises are signed up, stores open ...... but supply
is hopelessly inadequate for the demand and lawsuits are filed.
Eleanor and Raymond close all the stores. Earth shoes suffer
a sudden premature death.
Except for the pair that are put on
display in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The footwear may have died - but the
demand never did. People who'd bought them hung onto
them - ceaselessly searching for supplies
1997
The
birth and growth of the Internet gives Earth enthusiasts a perfect
platform to search for and discuss Earth Shoes. Over 20 years
those who had experienced Earth had never forgotten them and
weren't about to give up ! Forums spring up and the name and
legend are perpetuated.
2001
Michel
Meynard, French born American shoe manufacturer is on vacation in
Europe when he sees a vintage billboard ad featuring a model wearing
Earth shoes. In another of life's strange coincidences,
his interest is sparked and he buys the rights. Work begins
on updating and modernising the designs and styles - introducing
new lightweight materials and adding new features that today's sophisticated
market demanded. The result is a range of footwear that retains
all the original concepts of Anne Kelso's innovative breakthrough,
with today's chic. A blend of yesterday's nostalgia
with today's technology - retaining the look whilst being light
years ahead in comfort. Still with a retro feel, they no longer
have a clunky hippy look and are set to start a whole
new fashion trend.
2003
Autumn
Earth
is no longer simply a planet to live on .... it's set to become
a way of life !
2004
April
1st - exactly 34 years to the day since the first Earth
store opened in America - Internet retailer 'Love Those Shoes'
brings Earth back to Europe ! Launching a major collection on
their Internet website, including a new Vegan Range, certified
by the Vegan Society and showing a range of Womens and Mens stylish
and fashionable shoes with Negative Heel Technology, Earth are available
outside of USA for the first time.
Dateline
- April 1st 2004 - We're sure the story won't end
here ......
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