Archive · 9 Oct 2026
Indian Footwear Craft Finds New Life in Contemporary Design
India has many kinds of traditional footwear.
Each kind was shaped by the materials and needs of the people who made it.
The Kolhapuri chappal is known for leather strips woven into a braid.
Making that braid takes careful work and practice.
Today, designers can use details like this in simpler shoes for everyday wear.
The shoes can be made to suit different clothes and modern needs.
The article says this does not have to erase the old craft.
Instead, using traditional skills in new ways can help people keep appreciating them.
Regional footwear traditions developed in response to local materials, climates, lifestyles and practical needs.
The braided leather detailing of the Kolhapuri chappal is highlighted as both a functional technique and a design feature.
Traditional details such as leather braiding are being incorporated into simpler, versatile contemporary footwear.
The article says handmade leatherwork relies on precision, patience, experience and human judgment.
It argues that craft can be sustained by adapting traditional techniques for modern lifestyles without losing their connection to their origins.
- Who
- Indian craftspeople and contemporary footwear designers.
- What
- Traditional footwear techniques, including Kolhapuri leather braiding, are being adapted for contemporary designs.
- When
- The article discusses this evolution in the present, without specifying a date.
- Where
- India.
- Why
- The article argues that adapting craft to modern lifestyles can help keep traditional techniques relevant and appreciated.
- Featured craft
- Braided leather detailing associated with the Kolhapuri chappal
- Traditional technique
- Cutting and weaving leather strips
- Contemporary application
- Traditional details used in simpler, versatile footwear silhouettes
- Skills involved
- Precision, patience, practice and human judgment
- Article author
- Unnati Sinha, Founder & CEO, VENII