F‑Folio
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2012
Because you are what you wear
THE
UBIQUITOUS FOOTWEAR “T
hey come cheap, they come colourful. They go with this, and they go with that. We just love our Kolhapuri chappals and every college-goer has to have at least one pair of these, says Pranita Sachdev, a mass communication student. “Kolhapuri chappals are the in-thing right now. Really chic. They’re extremely trendy and very comfortable!” quips Rashmi Shastri, a student at St Francis College. “Apart from being really cheap, they go well with Indian and Western wear. Especially for Indian wear, be it any occasion, they just go so well with every outfit,” she adds. Kolhapuri chappals are exquisite handcrafted footwear, also called ‘Pie-Taan’ in Kolhapur. These chappals are
made from processed leather wherein hides of buffalo, goat and cow are processed and grazed (making the leather hard enough for daily wear and tear). Then, using templates, different designs on the chappals are cut out, and depending on the customer specifications, the leather is dyed in different colours or kept natural. The most amazing part of the chappal making process is the way it is then put together. The sole and the upper body are stitched together
using a leather cord, and not a single nail is used in the whole process!
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What is on everyone’s mind and feet these days? Kolhapuri chappals!
Finally, the chappals are adorned with zari strips, pompoms or a gota, or gold cords. Other traditional designs of the Kolhapuri chappals include the Kachkadi, Bakkalnali and the Pukari. But if you think this is a style that is a hit just among the girls, shake away those illusions! “They’re so, so versatile, they go with a dhoti, they go with a goatee! Super solid, tough and durable,” says Preetham
Raghu, a theatre artist working with Nishumbita. This is one of the few trends, which keeps coming and going but this piece of footwear has sustained itself through the storm of new entrants in the market simply because of its uniqueness and modern appeal. It goes easy on the budget and is fast catching up with the masses. If you don’t own one, it’s high time you do! By Darshani Nene and Maryam Sultana