Watchekongs (Watchicongs) for those who don't know came before bata bullets so don't confuse the name with the infamous bata line of sneakers. If the name is unfamiliar to you ask your mother or father who grew up in the early years about watchekongs and crepsoles. In other words you could easily think of them as 'old fashioned canvas sneakers'.
Today sneakers cost hundreds of dollars but there was a time in Trinidad and Tobago when sneakers were known as watchekongs, and people wore sappats and alphagats at home before rubber slippers came on the scene. This all seems like it was so long ago now look at where we are with computers and hi-tech sneakers with shock absorbers in the heels. If your memory is really good then you would also recall the indestructible 'dragon watchekong'. That shoe was white and worn by males only and to tell you the truth the heel would wear out and leave the top intact. See if that is the case with the sneakers that sell for hundreds of dollars today.
Watchekongs were the pride of every child because we had one pair to last for the school term and longer if necessary. It was easy to know those who did not wash their watchekongs every weekend because they stunk. A stinky watchekong was very obnoxious and a joke indeed for the kids on the block. This was usually the case when they were worn with socks. This was a case of severe toe-jam that reeked. I remember the guys breaking up a lime (Trinidadians hanging out) by tossing a stinky sneakers in the midst of the gathering. In this case people would remark: "Oh gosh that worse than the Mang". For those who don't know the 'Mang' is a reference to the mangrove swamp in the vicinity of the LaBasse that stunk up the entry to Port-of-Spain 'back in the day'.
Those of us who took time out to wash their watchekong with blue soap and a scrubbing brush would take out the insole and wash it separately. It was important that the insole was dried properly because if it was just a little dame it would stink by the end of the day if worn with a wet insole. It was typical to see watchekongs on bleaches (a stand made with chicken wire where clothing was spread out to dry in the sunlight). Sneakers were hung by the 'tong' on the lines and left to dry in the breeze and sunlight. The girls with their white watchekongs would use whitening to bring out the best in the sneakers. However, if rain should fall and they had to walk through the showers the whitening would run off the sneakers - not the best situation.
I must mention some of the tricks of the trade that manifested because of 'hard times'. Some people used the 'string' from the fig tree as laces (times were really bad in the country districts) but "marling" (very strong twine) was used in the towns where might bull kites were popular.
I must mention some of the tricks of the trade that manifested because of 'hard times'. Some people used the 'string' from the fig tree as laces (times were really bad in the country districts) but "marling" (very strong twine) was used in the towns where might bull kites were popular.
Indeed the good old days gave us the watchekong and even though by today's standards they can be considered inferior products they have left us with superior memories that we cherish to this day. Let's see if today's generations will think about sneakers the way we reminisce about "watchekongs".
I remember.
I remember.
Yes, I remember.
ccintoronto