Back in the days, shoes were practical, necessary things to keep your feet from harm and give yourself a neat appearance. ‘What a waste’, 10-year-old Jan Jansen thought, ‘shoes could be so much more than that!’ Well, the rest is history and since then Jan Jansen enlightened the world with one iconic, fashionable shoe design after another.
Jan became an inspiration to others. And his designs, more than once, let to similar designs by shoebrands worldwide. One in particular shows the impact Jan Jansen has had on the world of shoe fashion. One barely anyone knows about. I’m talking about his shoes with red soles.
In the ‘70s Jan Jansen launched a series of clogs and pumps with red bottoms. And in 1995 every high heel in his Linea Erotica line had one. Non commercial as he is, Jan never claimed the exclusive rights of his designs. So when the shoes became a great success, others jumped on the bandwagon as well.
But, around 1992 there was another free mind that designed shoes with cherry coloured soles: Christian Louboutin. He did what Jan didn’t and claimed the red sole as his exclusive design right. Ever since, Louboutin successfully sues companies who dare to produce shoes with red soles. All but one. Because there is one rebellious Dutch designer that can still run free with his high heels, clogs or whatever shoe he wants to design with red bottoms. And that designer is Jan Jansen. For he was the first ever to use red soles in his designs.
So, now you know.
And when you walk down the street one day, and there’s a woman walking in front of you, showing you the back of her shiny red shoes? Remember that he’s the one, Jan Jansen, who started this heavenly red revolution in the world of shoe design.
