Miao-style embroidered shoes

Miao-style embroidered shoes

　　The footwear of the Shui people shares many common characteristics with that of ethnic groups such as the Miao, Yao, Zhuang, and Dong in the Yunnan-Guizhou region, with a preference for wearing embroidered shoes with “upturned tips.”

　　The production process of Shui embroidered shoes is highly refined. Generally, dry bamboo shoot leaves are first used to cut a sole model, then layers of old cloth are stacked following the shape to make a “thousand-layer sole.” The prepared shoe upper is covered with velvet embroidery, featuring a wide variety of patterns—mostly birds and flowers. Sometimes, woolen pom-poms are attached at the toe. Finally, the upper and sole are stitched together.

　　Shui embroidered shoes are generally divided into two types.

　　One type features a round shoe upper, with the front part made of red fabric and the heel section in blue fabric, using flat embroidery, appliqué, and gold thread techniques.

　　The other type employs the “horsehair embroidery” method, with the shoe tip pointing upward and curling. The shoe upper is first adorned with patterns in white silk threads wrapped around horsehair forming the base design, which are then coiled into various geometric shapes and inlaid onto the upper. The motifs include floral patterns and cloud designs. The embroidery is exquisitely detailed and the craftsmanship is refined.

　　Generally speaking, it takes a skilled woman about 2–3 weeks to make a pair of embroidered shoes, while an ordinary woman may need even longer to complete one.