The footwear was made from various kinds of high-quality leather. A thick, dense cowhide was used to create the simplest footwear, with no decoration which were worn by artisans as well as peasants.
The Novgorod culture layer dating back to the 11th-13th century contains symmetrical shoes with narrow heels. Shoes that had stamped patterns, such as curves, parallel lines or designs with plants, were discovered in these discoveries.
Shoe Craftsmanship
In the course of excavations in medieval towns in north-eastern Russia archeologists have discovered a variety of kinds of shoes (lapti) with various decorations. Leather stamping and embroidering were the most frequent. They were the everyday shoes of the peasantry. They were worn with a tightening lace that wrapped around the ankle, and a sole that was sewn on.
For one lapti, a person needs seven pieces of bast each measuring two meters. To make these strips from a linden tree, its bark had to be stripped off the entire surface of the trunk without any flaws or rotting throughout its entire length. This is how the ancient Russians got a figurative expression of stripping like the in a linden.
Different regions have their own ways of making lapti. Moscow’s lapti are high and pointed, while those from the Northern regions are pointed and low. Double layers of bast are used to create winter lapti.
The 12th century was when shoemakers in Novgorod started to decorate their shoes with woolen threads and carvings of leather. The patterns used were a myriad of of triangles, crosses and the zigzags.
Leather Shoe Manufacturing
Literature has paid little attention to the art of shoemaking during medieval Novgorod. It is possible that the limited archeological material, which we use to study this topic is the reason for the lack of attention.
All sorts of footwear were found at Novgorod archaeological sites. They date back to the 10th to 14th centuries. Thick, dense cowhide leather was used for the simplest shoes with no embellishments and were meant for broad segments of the population (artisans as well as peasants). For openwork shoes, softer and thinner leathers were utilized.
The designs that were printed across the surface of the leather were made using the techniques of embroidery or carving on leather. These included curly designs and rows of parallel or cross-over lines, and vegetative patterns. The most sought-after design for openwork footwear was an elegant pair of flowers.
The shoes were also embellished with other embellishments like a pair of eyes, a ribbon and bow, etc. The soles were sewn onto the shoe to protect feet.
According to INE data, production in Russia increased in May 2022 as compared with the same month last year. Shoes and leather were among the industries that boosted output. The growth was largely due to the need for safety giay da luoi nam footwear. The Russian Vostok-Service produces safety footwear at its own production sites – Torzhok Shoe Factory ZAO (Torzhok, Tver region) and Working Style>> OOO (Uzlovaya, Tula region). The company is also a licensed distributor of the German Desma brand. Desma.
Traditional Techniques
In the 12th century, shoemaking was well-established in Novgorod. Shoes of various types were discovered in layers of the time, such as Bog shoes (lapti) soft ankle boots, shoes, and high-sided shoes that reached the ankle (porshni). These shoes were made from the linden bark, birch bark or oak bark, as well as the elm. The bark was stripped and cut into strips to weave.
The saddle stitch, also known as the hidden stitch was employed to join the leather pieces, based on whether they were placed close to each other or in a row. The butt seam was employed to connect the top piece with the lower leather piece, when it was abutting the two pieces. tachnyi shov, tachnyj shov].
Burki (feather-and-felt boots) made from white felt were a different kind of winter-wear. These were worn by the upper classes and were a distinguishing feature of the most prestigious Party generals, leaders as well as government officials and military commanders.
The 14th century was when simple, openwork footwear was replaced by knee-high boots. They had narrow heels, tiny holes for laces to thread, and holes or cuts in the bootlegs, where straps of leather could be placed. These are the types of shoes that have been found in the cultural layer of Novgorod, and a leather lace was used to secure the ankle.
Modern Innovation
VV: The culture of sneakers is very recent in Russia. I think it is developing, and the market keeps expanding. It’s not like it was in the 1990s when sneakers were only available to a small number of Moscow and Saint Petersburg residents who could afford foreign brands.
The Russian footwear industry is working to incorporate the latest trends and technologies by incorporating them in its production processes. For example, Obuv Rossii developed an automated system for manufacturing flip-flops and clogs with EVA with solid technology. This system is among the most modern in the area.
The shoemakers are also testing the use of new materials. They also use the latest IT systems to improve omnichannel sales and customer loyalty by offering a variety of other services.
The company will unveil and develop new shoe designs for both children and women. The shoes will be accompanied by shoes, bags that match, shoe care products and socks. These enhancements are expected to help increase sales, stimulate more sophisticated purchases, and increase the loyalty of customers.