What are creepers?
Creepers, also known as brothel creepers, are flat leather shoes with thick, soft crepe soles that are often up to 5 centimetres thick and have vertical grooves. These shoes, usually laced, are often made of suede. Nowadays, however, the shoe is also available in smooth leather and a wide variety of colours and designs. Their design and texture make them a striking fashion item that is particularly popular in subcultures and is always on trend.
History
Picture: George Cox Footwear
Die Ursprünge der Creeper Schuhe gehen auf die Zeit nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg zurück, als britische Soldaten aus Nordafrika nach London zurückkehrten. Dort hatten sie Wildlederstiefel mit dicken Gummisohlen getragen, die von ägyptischen und burmesischen Schuhmachern hergestellt wurden. Damals noch “Brothel Creepers” genannt, fanden die Schuhe dank den Veteranen ihren Weg ins zivile Leben und wurden angeblich oft im Rotlichtmilieu von Soho gesichtet, daher die Namensgebung.
In 1949, the company George Cox Footwear die erste modische Variante der Creepers auf den Markt, die als “Hamilton” bekannt wurde. Diese Schuhe wurden in der Fabrik von George Cox in Wellingborough gefertigt und erlangten schnell Popularität.
Teddy boys and punks
In den 1950er Jahren wurden Creepers besonders bei den Teddy Boys, einer britischen Jugendkultur, beliebt. Diese Kultur zeichnete sich durch auffällige Kleidung und eine Vorliebe für Rock ‘n’ Roll aus. Creepers wurden zu einem festen Bestandteil ihres Looks, der elegante Edwardianische Mode mit rebellischen Elementen verband.
In the 1970s, Creepers experienced a rebirth through the influence of Malcolm McLaren and Vivienne Westwood, die sie in ihrem Londoner Shop “Let it Rock” verkauften. Die Schuhe wurden schnell zu einem wichtigen Element der aufkommenden Punk-Szene, getragen von Bands wie den Sex Pistols.
Creepers became a key element of the punk rock look. As punk evolved into new wave and post-punk, new styles gained popularity such as less extreme rockabilly styles worn by artists like Elvis Costello, Squeeze and Madness.
“Not just the UK, but throughout the world, where pioneers such as Blue Moon in Germany, John Fluevog in Canada, Let it Rock in the USA, Figgins in Australia, Booster in Switzerland and American Import Export in Italy were introducing British subculture to their respective markets.”
Quote from the Website of George Cox
Creeper in the modern age
In the 1990s, creepers became popular again thanks to celebrity wearers such as the Spice Girls and Gwen Stefani. In the 2010s to 2020s, they experienced another renaissance, worn by artists and celebrities such as Rihanna, The Weeknd, Rita Ora, Katy Perry and Miley Cyrus.
In fact, Rihanna was so inspired by the Creeper that she launched a joint shoe collection with Puma in 2015 called Puma Creeper which was honoured as shoe of the year in 2016.
Today, creepers are not only an integral part of the fashion world, but also a symbol of style and rebellion. They are appreciated by various subcultures and fashion-conscious individuals and can be seen both on the street and on the catwalks. Brands such as George Cox and Steelgrounds continue to set the standard in the production of these iconic shoes.
Picture: George Cox Footwear
Buy Creeper
Irene and Pierre Montandon, the Founder of Boosterwere probably the first to import and sell the iconic shoe in Switzerland. To this day, the Creeper is an integral part of our range, which has continued to enjoy great popularity over the years. Including, of course, the Creeper from George Cox, die bis heute “Made in England” sind aber auch kostengünstigere Modelle von Steelgrounds or T.U.K Footwear.
Click here for our Creeper range!
