doubtedly grew out of the necessity to provide protection when moving over rough terrain in varying weather conditions. Initially, footwear was probably made of plaited grass or rawhide held to the foot with thongs. Soon the rich and influential began distinguishing themselves by the craftsmanship and decoration, which characterized their shoes. Today the footwear industry manufactures a wide range of footwear ranging from leather, rubber and other synthetic materials, and styles ranging from casual, formal, work, and athletic shoes. On average, every man, woman, and child in the United States purchases more than four pairs of shoes each year, a level of consumption that establishes the U.S. as the world's largest importer of footwear. The U.S. accounts for about 40 percent of footwear imports. In 1998, Americans spent approximately $38 billion to purchase more than 1.1 billion pairs of shoes.
The footwear industry is labor intensive and as a result is subject to pressure from imports. The U.S. footwear industry has been severely affected over the past decade; imports account for about 90 percent of shoes sold in the country.