Love Those Shoes - The Earth Story

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 - the first major collection of the modern EARTH range is launched. America takes them to it's heart and sales rocket. Francis Hendy dresses his models in Earth for his Fall 2003 Catwalk Show. Designer Kenneth Cole becomes a fan. Shoe Designer Manolo Blahnik speaks out in praise of them. 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 ......