Handmade in India

1. Natural colour,square sole.
2. Tan colour,pointed sole,two supports
3. Red tasselled chappal.
Kapashi chappals
KOLHAPURI CHAPPAL-LEATHER FOOTWEAR
KOLHAPURI CHAPPAL MAKING is a major handicraft
industry the employs over 20,000 craftspersons in the
district.Kolhapur chappals are flat,intricately
patterned,handcrafted leather footwear traditionally made in
kolhapur by the Chamar community whose hereditary occupation
is tanning and leather work.Originally the footwear was made for
daily use by farmers and field workers but the simple ingenious
design has reached out to a wider spectrum of people all over the
world.The cords used to stitch the sandals are made of leather
and ,surprisingly,no nails are used in their making.Made of
buffalo hide,fine goat leather is used for the plaited strips that
decorate their upper portion.Dyed in natural tan,deep
maroon,mustard yellow and dark brown colours they are
decorated with leather braids and golden zari cords.Though
traditional designs have thong-like straps with a toe strap for
further strength,the craftsmen now produce simple variants of
these designs such as kachkadi,bakkalnali and pukari.Numerous
designs,along with the introduction of new colours,have evolved
over time to cater to contemporary demands.
4a, 4b Variations in design.
5 Contemporary variation in the same technique.
6 Pointed sole with punched patterns.
7 Natural colour,square-shaped sole and thonging on the foot
support with a red tassel.
8 Tools for slicing,cutting and sewing the leather.
9 Cobbler`s anvil.
Production Clusters
Kolhapur district:
Kolhapur
Kapashi
Rajgarh district:
Kurudwad
Sangli district:
Miraj
Jath
Kavathe Mahankal
Satara district:
Satara
Pune district:
Pune city
Mumbai district:
Mumbai city
Airoli
Products
Footwear
Purses,Bags,Wallets
Tools
Raapi-cutting tool
Compass
Saral aari-stitching
tool or awl
khurpa-scraping tool
Mothi aari-big awl
Saral vakde-piercing
tool
Scissors,Needles
Embossing nails
Awls,Punches
Pincers,Pliers
Brushes,Polish
Mallet,Dies
Stone base
Sewing machine