Back in the early 70s, the Earth Shoe established itself as part of the counter-culture movement. Introduced in the U.S. on April 1 of 1970 and sharing that month with the first ever Earth Day, these shoes were, quite possibly, some of the most unattractive foot gear to grace the decade. Created by Danish yoga instructor Anna Kalso, the earth shoe featured “negative heel technology,” meaning the sole was thinner at the heel than at the front of the foot. I think you’ll agree this was (and still is) the height of function over fashion.
At some point during the following months, my best friend Sally and I ventured into the city – for the first time ever without our parents – to buy our earth shoes. We were just shy of becoming teenagers, but managed to convince our parents that this was a moment in time we needed to be a part of. We’d been too young for Woodstock – but we weren’t going to miss this. For us, these shoes were a statement: that we cared about the world and the environment, that we were no longer children, that we could be part of a new generation of thinkers and creators.
Did these shoes provide a better, healthier way of walking? We really didn’t care. Did we think they were great looking? No, we weren’t that naive. Did we think we were the “hippest” wearing these? Absolutely.
As I remember them, my earth shoes looked similar to the ones pictured here except I’m pretty sure mine were a light brown suede.
Today, thankfully(!), we can show our concern and support for a better earth in other ways. For me, that means everything from driving a hybrid car and relying on reusable shopping bags to installing LED lights throughout our home, to name a few ways I try to protect our environment.
Most recently, I took one more modest step towards living a more sustainable life. I ditched that big plastic (ugh) jug of laundry detergent and am now using Tru Earth laundry strips.
IMPORTANT NOTE: This post is not sponsored. I have not been paid to write this post and am receiving absolutely no compensation (other than the satisfaction of sharing). The company Tru Earth doesn’t even know I’m writing this and they probably never will.
These laundry strips are packaged in a paper envelope and require almost no space to store – they easily can fit in a drawer. There are enough strips to last months. Simply drop one in your washing machine and go. Small load? Tear the strip in half.
Earth shoes? Only if you’re feeling nostalgic.
Susan E. Ross is founder/publisher/curator of Westchester Senior Voice print and digital magazine. She is also founder of the Booming BETTER Expo as well as a Certified Senior Advisor and part of the boomer generation. She is committed to changing the conversation about aging and discards the notion that being a certain age makes us irrelevant. Boomers and seniors are vital members of our communities and enhance the lives of those around us. Susan can be reached via email at Publisher@westchesterseniorvoice.com
Latest posts by Susan E. Ross
(see all)
18 Oct 2020
0 Commentsa more sustainable life
Back in the early 70s, the Earth Shoe established itself as part of the counter-culture movement. Introduced in the U.S. on April 1 of 1970 and sharing that month with the first ever Earth Day, these shoes were, quite possibly, some of the most unattractive foot gear to grace the decade. Created by Danish yoga instructor Anna Kalso, the earth shoe featured “negative heel technology,” meaning the sole was thinner at the heel than at the front of the foot. I think you’ll agree this was (and still is) the height of function over fashion.
At some point during the following months, my best friend Sally and I ventured into the city – for the first time ever without our parents – to buy our earth shoes. We were just shy of becoming teenagers, but managed to convince our parents that this was a moment in time we needed to be a part of. We’d been too young for Woodstock – but we weren’t going to miss this. For us, these shoes were a statement: that we cared about the world and the environment, that we were no longer children, that we could be part of a new generation of thinkers and creators.
As I remember them, my earth shoes looked similar to the ones pictured here except I’m pretty sure mine were a light brown suede.
Today, thankfully(!), we can show our concern and support for a better earth in other ways. For me, that means everything from driving a hybrid car and relying on reusable shopping bags to installing LED lights throughout our home, to name a few ways I try to protect our environment.
Most recently, I took one more modest step towards living a more sustainable life. I ditched that big plastic (ugh) jug of laundry detergent and am now using Tru Earth laundry strips.
IMPORTANT NOTE: This post is not sponsored. I have not been paid to write this post and am receiving absolutely no compensation (other than the satisfaction of sharing). The company Tru Earth doesn’t even know I’m writing this and they probably never will.
These laundry strips are packaged in a paper envelope and require almost no space to store – they easily can fit in a drawer. There are enough strips to last months. Simply drop one in your washing machine and go. Small load? Tear the strip in half.
Earth shoes? Only if you’re feeling nostalgic.