The world’s largest collection of shoes is held by the Northampton Museum and Art Gallery in England, with over 12,000 pairs.The word “sandal” comes from the Greek word “sandalon,” which originally referred to a type of flat wood used for making shoes. The iconic red-soled shoes of Christian Louboutin were inspired by an assistant painting her nails with red nail polish. Ancient Romans wore shoes with elevated soles called “buskins” to denote social status and power. The practice of shoe shining dates back to the 18th century when leather shoes became more common and needed regular maintenance. The term “loafer” originated in the 1930s, referring to a slip-on shoe style favored by casual, “loafing” men. The earliest known shoes made specifically for the left and right feet were created in England in 1818. The average woman owns about 20 pairs of shoes, while the average man owns about 12 pairs. The longest shoelace ever made measured 81.54 meters (267 feet 5.6 inches) and was created by Heng Yi Teah of Malaysia in 2006.  The world’s tallest man, Robert Wadlow, wore shoes size 37AA (US) or 76 (European). In Japan, it is customary to remove shoes before entering a home as a sign of respect and cleanliness. The Guinness World Record for the most expensive shoes ever sold at auction is $660,000 for a pair of Dorothy’s ruby slippers from the Wizard of Oz.
 The concept of “breaking in” shoes dates back to ancient Rome when soldiers would wear new leather boots until they softened and molded to their feet. The oldest known shoe store still in operation is Rogers Shoes in Auburn, Maine, USA, established in 1840.The most common shoe size for men in the US is 10.5, while for women, it is 8.5. The term “cobbler” comes from the Greek word “cobalus,” meaning “one who mends shoes.”The heel of a shoe was originally added to riding boots to help keep feet secure in stirrups. The average person takes approximately 8,000 to 10,000 steps per day. The “flip-flop” sound of sandals is where the term “flip-flops” originated. The world’s smallest adult shoes were made in Japan and measure just 1.1 inches (2.8 cm) long.The heel height of men’s shoes has varied throughout history, with some ancient cultures preferring elevated heels for stature and authority. The concept of “sneakerhead” culture, where people collect and obsess over sneakers, emerged in the 1980s with the rise of Nike Air Jordans.The first pair of Adidas shoes was created in 1920 by Adi Dassler in his mother’s kitchen. The world’s fastest marathon run in flip-flops is 2 hours, 46 minutes, and 45 seconds, set by Michaël “Mike” Kerkhove in 2019.
 The term “stilettos” originally referred to a type of dagger with a slender blade, later inspiring the name for slender-heeled shoes.