Loafers have been a classic sight in footwear since the early 19th century. Yet the design originated from moccasins, apron-stitched leather shoes made and worn by humans for the last 5,500 years or more.
High-end slippers, for the wealthy in the late 1800s, took the basic design and made it sturdier, adding a tougher sole or a low heel.
Norwegian shoemaker Nils Gregoriusson Tveranger introduced a newer version in around 1908. He was inspired by Native American shoes, with the apron-stitch similar to that seen for so many centuries beforehand.
By the 1950s, loafers were more formal and robust and typified the ‘preppy’ look popular among American students of the time. Some had a strap across the front and became known as ‘penny’ loafers, while others sported decorative tassels. The style retains a timeless appeal, at once casual and smart, modern and traditional.
