Blame Baby Boomers for the popularity of flip-flops. Though there’s some evidence that a thong-like sandal was worn by the ancient Egyptians, modern flip-flops evolved from the Japanese zöri, which American soldiers brought home after World War II. They became unisex summer footwear in the 1960s when hippies began wearing them, along with tie-dyed T-shirts, love beads and ethnic clothing.

Now the humble flip-flop — a flat sole held loosely on the foot by a Y-shaped strap — is creating a monster headache in some parts of the world. In fact, walk on any beach, and you’re likely to find at least one that’s washed up. On East Africa’s beaches, about 90 tons of discarded and errant flip-flops wash up, according to Ocean Sole, a Kenya-based conservation group, recycling collective and artists consortium that was founded in the late 1990s by Julie Church.

"Over three billion people can only afford that type of shoe," Erin Smith of Ocean Sole told CNN. "They hang on to them, they fix them, they duct tape them, mend them and then usually discard them." The average lifespan of a flip-flop is two years, she added.

We first reported on Ocean Sole in 2013. Ocean Sole has trained a team of artists in a workshop in Nairobi to craft sculptures from flip-flops, creating a much-needed source of income.

Smith estimates the Ocean Sole team can repurpose approximately 800,000 flip-flops a year — they are not only repurposed as objets d'art, they've been used in local playgrounds as soft flooring.

Ocean Sole hopes to produce a million products a year.

Ocean Sole artisans create a number of safari animals, including lions, rhinos, elephants, giraffes, and warthogs. You can help support Ocean Sole and its artisans by ordering one of these whimsical creations.