Think slippers are just cozy house shoes? Think again. These ten eye-opening facts reveal how slippers have shaped cultures, broken records and even fetched six-figure prices at auction.
1. The Word “Slipper” Dates Back to 1478
The first recorded use of the word appears in English texts from 1478 and literally means a shoe you can “slip” on and off.:contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
2. Silk Slippers Were Fashionable in 12th-Century China
Archaeologists have unearthed ornate silk slippers from the Song dynasty, showing that indoor comfort footwear already existed over 800 years ago.:contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
3. Japan Has Dedicated “Toilet Slippers”
In Japanese homes and ryokan inns you’ll find a separate pair of slippers reserved exclusively for the bathroom. Forgetting to remove them outside the restroom is a major faux-pas.
4. Judy Garland’s Ruby Slippers Fetched $660,000
One of the shimmering pairs worn in The Wizard of Oz sold for $660 K at a 2000 auction, making them the most expensive movie slippers ever sold at the time.:contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
5. The Smithsonian Guards Another Iconic Pair
The National Museum of American History holds a restored pair behind state-of-the-art display glass to prevent the sequins from fading.:contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
6. A 7-Foot “Monster Slipper” Went Viral in 2011
British shopper Tom Boddingham accidentally ordered a single slipper longer than a car after misplacing a decimal point—sparking headlines worldwide and a clever PR stunt.:contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
7. Nick Cannon Wore $2 Million Diamond Slippers on TV
The entertainer dazzled the 2014 America’s Got Talent finale in custom loafers encrusted with 1,400 white diamonds, insured for roughly $2 M.:contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
8. The Largest Pair of Commercial Slippers Measures Over 1.6 m
According to Guinness World Records, an Indonesian company crafted a matching set measuring 5 ft 5 in (1.67 m) long for a promotional event.:contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}
9. Slippers Once Symbolized Status in 18th-Century Europe
Hand-embroidered velvet mules were so prized that French aristocrats displayed them during soirées to showcase wealth and taste.:contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}
10. CP Slippers Keeps the Tradition Alive—Handmade in Spain
Our artisans in Elche craft full-grain leather slippers that mold to your feet, honoring centuries of shoemaking heritage. Explore the collection.
