Toddler Toes and the Tiger's Tale

After spending this past weekend at the San Diego Zoo and seeing at least a dozen or more pair of Robeez on babies, it dawned on me why I find these sugary-sweet appliquéd shoes so familiar.

The shark embellished ones are particularly reminiscent of something I heard several years ago.
They remind me of the outfits for infants traditional to China which utilize a complex system of auspicious symbols as protection against whatever evil forces might be out to harm the child. I remember hearing a lecture on the topic several years ago and have always been fascinated by this use of clothing as protection – not just from the wind, rain and sun but from the forces of evil as well.

Because family continuity and prosperity were and continue to be of great significance and value in traditional Chinese society, parents and grandparents practice great care in ensuring their children mature to adulthood. In the past however, infant mortality was generally attributed to the work of evil spirits rather than the lack of medical attention or malnutrition. As a result, children’s costume, particularly hats and shoes, were adorned with auspicious symbols – like the tiger – to ward off any supernatural powers which might be up to no good. These symbols were meant to frighten or fool the evil spirits, making them think the child was merely an animal and not a human being. They figured that if their child was kitted out enough with tiger emblazoned gear, the spirits would see them as an animal not worth harming or snatching away.

Besides the tiger, other traditional images used include the rooster (whose daily cock-a-doodle-doo would scare away every ghost) and the pig (which is a bit paradoxical – it symbolizes abundance but could also fool the evil spirits into thinking the child was but a lowly pig). The scorpion, lizard, centipede, snake, and toad – together forming the powerful Five Poisons – have the effect of neutralizing evil.

Seeing the Shark Robeez at the zoo made me curious about their connection with this complex system of protective and auspicious symbols. The creator of Robeez, Sandra Wilson, first began making shoes for her son after she was laid off in a corporate downsizing. Though her selection of colorful imagery may not be as invested with centuries old symbols and meaning, her intention was surely one of protection and well-wishes of wealth and a prosperous future for her son. In the ten years or more that the company has been in business, her shoes have certainly delivered. Robeez shoes are sold in over 4,500 stores throughout North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia.