Why are different leathers used for the instep strap and the footbed of the flip-flops?
Different types of genuine leather are indicated for the part wrapping the instep and the footbed, causing curiosity about the reason they were used separately.
Soft sheepskin is used for the instep strap, which directly rubs against the skin, and sturdy cowhide is used separately for the footbed, which must support body weight.
The instep is sheepskin, and the footbed is cowhide. Moia's tilt flip-flops use sheepskin for the upper that holds the instep, and cowhide for the insole that the sole of the foot touches[1].
In general, sheepskin has a fine and flexible grain, so it tends to cause less friction irritation when in contact with the tender instep or between the toes. On the other hand, cowhide has dense and tough fiber structure, so when used for the footbed where body weight is applied, it does not easily lose its shape and maintains durability.
This is a construction that separately considers the softness and support needed for each position touched by bare feet.
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