Who invented the name jandal that is synonymous to kiwi slang? Well there is much debate over this, was it Morris Yock and his son Anthony or John Cowie?
The late Morris Jock patented the design in 1957 and apparently invented the kiwi jandal. However, a Taranaki woman by the name of Mary Deken claims her late father, John Cowie, is the inventor and says that Morris Yock was just an importer not the inventor. Mary Deken claims her father came up with the name jandal which is short for ‘Japanese sandal’.
The etymology states that the word is a blend of Japanese and sandal and that Morris Yock trademarked the jandal. Morris was inspired by the footwear he had come across while he was in Japan. His son Anthony and him began manufacturing rubber jandals out of their garage in 1957.
Rubber for the jandals was imported from Hong Kong and Jandals Ltd initially manufactured them. In 1987 Skellerup bought the business and took over.
There have been many cheap and imported imitations of the brand and in the 1980’s and 1990’s the Jandal was under threat. Legal action nearly took place by the owners to protect their ‘Jandal’ trademark.
In the UK and the US jandals are known as flip-flops (which comes from the noise they make when walking in them) and in Australia they are known as thongs and South Africans called them plakkies.
It seems most kiwis have a pair of jandals or have owned a pair in the past. We grew up with these rubber sandals on our feet. We love the beach so it’s a no-brainer to own a pair or two. Some kiwis even call jandals ‘samoan safety boots’ as Samoan’s wear jandals everywhere, even to work sometimes.
As a photographer Iโve always had a passion for creative art and recently I have started to feature some Kiwiana Digital Prints with sayings, words, phrases and colloquialisms.
If youโre a home sick Kiwi living abroad, my artwork may just be an ideal solution for a dose of New Zealand artwork to decorate your home or office.
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Thank you for being a part of this artistic journey with me. Your support means the world, and I can’t wait to see “Jandals” adorning your walls!
🌟 Embrace the kiwiness. Own “Jandals” today! 🌟
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Where did you get the idea that South Aussies call thongs ‘plakkies’?!
I’ve lived in SA all my life and never heard that word before! They’re thongs, aka pluggas, and some weirdos have gone Seppo and call them ‘flip-flops’. But never ‘plakkies’. Someone’s pulling your leg.
Lol…thanks Nat. That was a typo and you found it!! It should read South Africa. At least someone is reading my blog ๐
Thanks for this excellent information. I didn’t even know that the Usonians used the same name as we Brits do, nor that Kiwis use a different term from Aussies.
Glad you liked it Jonathon. It’s interesting how Kiwis and Aussies use different terms. They actually use a lot of different terms for the same things. Esky and chilly bin is one example…lol.