ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Rope-soled shoe

Hey kiddo! Do you know what shoes are made of? Sometimes they're made of soft material like fabric or leather, and sometimes they're made of harder material like rubber. But have you ever heard of a shoe with a rope sole?

A rope-soled shoe is just like any other shoe, but the bottom part that touches the ground is made out of rope. The rope is woven together really tightly so that it makes a sturdy and durable sole.

Now imagine you're walking on a slippery surface, like a boat deck or a wet sidewalk. Have you ever slipped and almost fallen? The rope sole of a shoe can help prevent slipping because the strands of rope give a good grip on the ground.

Rope-soled shoes were originally made by fishermen who needed shoes that could grip on wet and slippery surfaces. But nowadays, people wear them for all sorts of things, like hiking and even just for fashion. They can come in all sorts of styles and colors, but one thing they have in common is their strong and grippy rope sole. And that's why rope-soled shoes are so special!