Aren't these the same people that came up with the bright idea of WOODEN SHOES?
Wooden shoes used to be quite common all over Europe, or at least in the northwest of Europe where you get lots of wet weather. Keeps your feet up and out of the mud.
In the middle ages there were even hinged wooden shoes, with straps to tie your regular shoes into it. The hinges allowed a more natural motion of the foot, but the wooden "sole" allowed one to wear ordinary shoes with these whilst staying above the mud. A kind of "outdoor shoe" to protect your good "indoor shoe".
Research the origins of the word sabotage. Hint: it's from a French word for wooden shoe.