The document proposes adding a "flip flop" emoji to represent the popular footwear. It provides background on flip flops' origins in ancient Egypt and spread in modern times. The proposal suggests a design depicting a simple flip flop silhouette and argues for its inclusion based on flip flops' global popularity and common usage contexts. Statistical data on flip flop searches and social media posts requesting the emoji support that it would see frequent use. No existing emoji accurately represents the iconic Y-shaped strap of a flip flop. The proposal argues the flip flop emoji would fill a contextual gap and complete the footwear category.

1. Proposal for Flip Flop Emoji
Submitted by
Tarun Mugunthan
Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
Introduction.
In this proposal I put forth the addition of an emoji representing the popular
unisex footwear- flip flops​1​
, to the existing Unicode emoji list which already
contains emojis for “high heeled shoe”, “woman’s sandal”, “woman’s boot”, "man's
shoe” and "running shoe”.
Flip Flops as a form of footwear originated in Ancient Egypt around 4000 BC​ ​2​
.
Flip Flops came into the Western culture after the Second World War​3​
. They have
since become a part of modern society. Flip Flops were worn frequently to
beaches and pools but have now become a part of daily footwear. In India and
Pakistan they are known as ​hawai chappal ​and in Australia they are called ​thongs.​.4
1. Identification
Short names and keyword for the proposed emoji are :
A. CLDR short name: Flip Flop
B. CLDR keywords: Flip Flop | Hawai Chappal | Slipper | Footwear | Thong
2. Images
I propose the following image for the Flip Flop emoji.
​ Figure 1 - Proposed Emoji for Flip Flop
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1-​http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/fashion/features/the-timeline-flip-flops-2039012.html
2,3,4 - ​https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flip-flops

2. 3. Selection Factors for Inclusion:
The addition has two arguments. First is that flip flops are very commonplace
around the world and used in a wide variety of social settings. Second is that no
existing emoji on the list captures or accurately represents the iconic and very
simple ‘Y-shaped’ strap design of a flip flop.
A. Compatibility​:
There is an emoji which refers to the flip flop in the Indian context, on Skype​5​
, the
instant messaging app which provides online text message and video chat services.
Hence there is a need for a Flip Flop emoji for compatibility.
Figure 2 - Skype ‘Chappal’ Emoji
B. Expected Usage Level:
1.Frequency:​ The expected usage level is predicted to be higher than, if not
equal to, the usage levels of the related emojis; “woman’s sandal”, “woman’s
boot”, "man's shoe” and “running shoe” emojis. The popularity of Flip Flops
as showed in Google Trends to be constantly higher and increasing over the
last five years as compared to Woman’s Boots, Running shoe, Sandals and
Man’s shoe. Along with this, the interest in the proposed emoji has a wide
geographic distribution. This includes areas like Russia, United States of
America, Brazil, India, Australia, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, France,
Spain, Germany, United Kingdom, Italy.​6
____________________________________________________________________
5 - ​https://support.skype.com/en/faq/FA12330/what-is-the-full-list-of-emoticons
6-​https://trends.google.co.in/trends/explore?date=today%205-y&q=%2Fm%2F025znc,running%20shoe
,womans%20boots,sandal

3.
Figure 3 - Google Trends interest over the last five years of Flip Flops as compared to
Running shoe, Woman’s Boots, Sandal, Man’s Shoe.
Figure 4 - Interest by region on Google Trends for Flip Flops, Running shoe, Woman’s
Boots, Sandal, Man’s Shoe.

4. 2.Multiple Usages:​ The Flip Flop emoji can be used in a diverse array of
contexts. For example it can be used to signify with— along with many
other things:
● Summer, Summer Wear and Beaches and related parties.
● Poverty and the commonwealth society.
● Casual Outfit, College life, Bath Wear.
Figure 5 - An example of the use of the proposed emoji

5. 3.Use in sequences:​ Flip Flop emoji can be used with existing emojis to
effectively
convey meanings.
● The Flip Flop emoji will be usable in sequence with the Sunglasses
and Sun emoji to convey emotions related to Summer and Summer
wear.
● It can be used with the existing Bikini emoji to convey a feeling of
beach events.
C. Image distinctiveness: ​The Flip Flop is a popular and hence easily recognisable
footwear item. It has a very distinct, simple and iconic shape with the ‘Y- Strap’
design. It does not have excessive details in its appearance and can be simplified
into a small sized image without loss in meaning. It is very easily distinguished
from the existing footwear related emojis on the Unicode list.
D. Completeness:​ The Flip Flop emoji would complete the existing collection of
footwear related emojis on the Unicode list​ ​
since it would fill the contextual gap
where the other kinds of footwear are not appropriate. Such a contextual gap
appears when emotions related to summer, beaches or casual dressing need to be
conveyed.
E. Frequently Requested:​ The Flip Flop emoji has been requested many times by
Twitter​7 ​
and Facebook​8​
​users.
​ Figure 6 - Facebook Post requesting Flip Flop emoji.

6.
Figure 7 - Tweets indicative of people wanting Flip Flop emoji.
____________________________________________________________________
7 - ​https://twitter.com/search?q=flipflopemoji&src=typd&lang=en
8 - ​https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=977638165581288&id=303240069687771

7.
Figure 8 - Pinterest post requesting a Flip Flop emoji.
Instagram Data
Comparison of the Instagram hashtags for the proposed emoji in against some of
the existing similar emojis show that their popularity is comparable.
Number of posts with #flipflops = 1,086,617
Number of posts with #sandals = 3,281,421
Number of posts with #runningshoes = 803,665
(As of August 11, 2017)
____________________________________________________________________
Figure 8 link - ​https://in.pinterest.com/pin/392516923764126800/
https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/flipflops/
https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/sandals/
https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/runningshoes/

8.
4 Selection Factors for Exclusion:
F. Overly Specific:​ Flip Flops will not be overly specific as they are relevant to a
wide variety of contexts which have been mentioned above.
G. Open Ended: ​ This criterion is not applicable. The appearance is not
ambiguous. Again, the ‘Y-Strap’ design of flip flops has been an iconic and
distinctive feature of flip flops.
H. Already Representable: ​ The distinctive shape of a flip flop cannot be
represented by the existing emojis on the list.
I. Logos, Brands, UI Icon, Signage, Specific People, Deities:​ The proposed emoji
is free of copyright concerns and does not contain references to deities, logos and
specific peoples, historical or living.
J. Transient:​ Flip Flops have their roots thousands of years in the past and their
minimal appearance has remained unchanged since then. Since then their
popularity and prevalence has only grown. They remain to be one of the most
used footwear items in the present. Estimated global flip flop sales are upto $20
billion every year, which is more than the sneaker/trainer market​8​
.
K. Faulty Comparisons:​ The argument made for this proposal is not on the basis
of similarity or superiority over existing emojis but on the grounds of lack of
representation of flip flops in the current Unicode list.
5 Sort Location:
The proposed Flip Flop emoji should be placed in the “clothing” section.
A. Proposed Flip Flop emoji should be placed in “footwear” category.
B. Proposed Flip Flop emoji should come after the Woman’s Boot Emoji.
_
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9 - ​http://ezinearticles.com/?10-Things-You-Never-Knew-About-Flip-Flops&id=6261170

9. 6 Justification for the proposed Image:
● Flip flops come in a very wide range of colors. The thing that is common
between all varieties is the minimal design with the sole and ‘Y-shaped’ strap
design. This feature has been captured in the image.
● This angle from which the flip flop is represented in the emoji is to maintain
consistency with the side profiles of the other footwear items represented in
the existing emoji list. Only a single flip flop is shown instead of a pair for
the same consistency reasons.