SHOPPERS are expected to step back in time this winter - in a bid to head off soaring heating bills.
As the whole of the UK is gripped by inflation-busting increases to gas and electric bills, experts are predicting that an item of clothing that first entered the English language some 500 years ago is to experience a surge in demand.
For the humble slipper the butt of many jokes and even more Christmas presents is about to make a renaissance, with manufacturers bracing themselves for rocketing sales both on the High Street and, increasingly for footwear, online..
The so-called energy crunch' has already triggered a rise in the number of people putting the grate back in Great Britain and opening up their fireplaces again.
More and more people are also turning in record numbers to other traditional, low-cost measures such as eating porridge for breakfast and spicy food for dinner; wearing bedsocks; going to bed with a hot water bottle; and adding additional layers of clothing.
And while the pipe has been overtaken by cigarettes; a crossword replaced by sudoku; there is nothing that compete with the slipper for comfort, relaxation and, crucially his winter, keeping snug!
And it is this unique asset that is expected to give shoebuyers and footwear manufacturers a warm glow over the forthcoming winter months as fuel prices show no sign of abating, and unpredictability about gas supplies continues.
As higher bills drop through people's letterboxes, there is no shortage of tips and advice for people wanting to save money and stay warm.
People may not emulate the heroics of Derek The Slipper Man' Fan credited in Wikipedia as the holder of a Guinness World Record for wearing a pair of slippers for 23 years continuously but there is certainly going to be a lot more slipper-wearing happening this winter!
And, what's more, they are tremendous value-for-money. While the most expensive on record were the ruby pair worn by Judy Garland when she played Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz in 1939 (later sold at auction for $165,000), many a good pair can be picked up for 10 to 12 or less.
The word slipper' was first recorded in English in 1478, deriving from the much older verb to slip', the notion being of footwear that is "slipped" onto the foot.
Unlike Cinderella's, slippers are frequently made out of soft materials such as felt, terrycloth or soft leather, and may or may not be lined.
Some slippers, particularly those meant to be used near pools, bathrooms, or other wet places, are made of plastic or rubber. Slippers generally have thin and flexible soles, with a shallow tread only to prevent the wearer from slipping on smooth floors.
In contrast, shoes and boots are generally made of canvas, plastic, rubber, or leather, and often have thick soles.
Slippers may be shaped like a shoe (foot inserted through top), or may have no heel, so the foot can be slipped in the back. They now come in many colourful designs cartoon characters, patterns and animals are often used to decorate this type of footwear.
In America , slippers are so popular that the nation pays homage to them each October with a National Slipper Day, raising money to go to god causes.
Perhaps this unsung hero of Britain 's fashion industry should be equally commemorated here and its resurgence in popularity this winter may just give it the step up it deserves.
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