Shoes are one of the most useful items of clothing and their use dates back to prehistoric times. As we all know, the function of footwear is to provide protection and comfort to the foot in the daily task of moving around the world. Nowadays, shoes, in addition to the function described above, also serve other functions such as aesthetics, as an element of status, or for medical purposes such as orthopedic shoes. The way in which we design footwear has varied greatly over the centuries, with sophisticated techniques and complexity.

Shoes are one of the most useful items of clothing and their use dates back to prehistoric times. As we all know, the function of footwear is to provide protection and comfort to the foot in the daily task of moving around the world. Nowadays, shoes, in addition to the function described above, also serve other functions such as aesthetics, as an element of status, or for medical purposes such as orthopedic shoes. The way in which we design footwear has varied greatly over the centuries, with sophisticated techniques and complexity.

The first shoes had a very simple design, oriented to their primary and immediate function. They were little more than bags made of animal skin in which to put the foot and thus protect the feet from the irregularities of the ground, humidity and cold. In other cases, the first shoes were made with plant bark, as is the case of the sandals found in the state of Oregon in the USA, between 10,000 and 11,000 years old. This remained the same with few variations or innovations for several millennia. Sandals are the first type of footwear that was standardized in different cultures throughout the world. Depending on the climate, sandals and the first leather "shoes" had certain characteristics or others. In civilizations with warm climates, sandals were made with bark as soles held together with braided laces of plant material. In cold climates, leather bags as shoes would later appear as a more suitable alternative for cold climates. In any case, the first models of footwear would not undergo innovations until the Egyptian and Mesopotamian era. "Moccasins" dating back 3,600 years have been found in Babylon. The first boots in history also come from the time of the Fertile Crescent, when Syrian soldiers were the first to use them. At that time they were high boots similar to leggings. The oldest known pieces come from Mesopotamia in the Middle East.

Footwear became more than just a walking accessory from the Middle Ages onwards, when shoes were made with flaps or alternating fabrics to protect the skin and reinforce the foot for a better fit. It was during the Middle Ages that in Europe, shoes became a symbol of social status for nobles and the rich, which led to the creation of more complex designs with a purely aesthetic function, leaving aside their practical utility, which would be recovered shortly after out of necessity, creating new styles until the modern solid and stitched shoe was reached. Since the 17th century, most leather shoes have been characterized by a unique stitching. Advances in the rubber, plastic, synthetic fabric and industrial adhesive industries have allowed manufacturers to create shoes that differ considerably from traditional manufacturing techniques. Therefore, leather, which had been the main manufacturing material, is now generally used to make expensive shoes, while sports shoes do not use real leather.

From the 20th century onwards, shoes evolved rapidly and at a dizzying pace. Stylistic changes in both men and women meant that fashions and designs adapted to the different historical and thought moments of that century. Designers specialising in shoe design began to appear and their brands and firms remained renowned.

Contemporary footwear varies widely in style, complexity, and cost. A basic sandal may consist of a thin sole and simple lacing. Fashion shoes may be made of very expensive materials in complex constructions and sold for thousands of dollars a pair. Other shoes are for very specific purposes, such as those designed for mountain climbing or skiing.