First created in the Kolhapur town of Maharashtra state in India, the infamous footwear dates all the way back to the 13th century. The first family attached to its origin is the Saudagar family in the town of Kolhapur in 1920 who, after sending their wares to retail stores in Mumbai and finding them to be a huge success, decided to begin teaching the work to other artisans so as to meet demands.
Source: Kolhart
Image: Brown Kolhapuri’s
Image Description: Brown Kolhapuri’s with a green band in front of artisan making shoes
Handmade by artisans, a Kolhapuri is a sandal made of genuine leather and tanned by vegetable dyes with an open-toe and a T-strap. Processed through a series of mechanical and chemical operations in order to preserve and strengthen the buffalo hide, once the leather becomes hard enough, it’s durable enough to go mountain climbing! At this point, the craftsmen are ready to design the sandal.
A Kolhapuri is one of the very few footwear in the region that’s truly handmade; from the cutting, processing, stitching and punching, there are no tools used other than leather threads. This adds not just to the comfort of the sandal, but also to its durability since there are no products like nails that could go rusty or cause harm to the wearer.
Source: Kolhart
Image: Shoe-making instruments
Image Description: A piece of brown dyed leather with threads, scissors and other tools
They were originally made using medicinal plants which could impart their properties to the footwear, soothing the foot. Later on, it was found that the leather used absorbed heat, which in turn soothed the foot and the rest of the body!
In the local language of its origin, the Kolhapuri was called a “Pie-taan”; it has picked up different names according to the place of manufacturing, such as Kapashi, Pukari, Bakkalnali & Kachkadi.
Although an original Kolhapuri comes in various shades of leather (due to the vegetable dyes), nowadays the sandals have rapidly become a fashion statement, leading to craftsmen experimenting with various different types of designs, such as gota patti, zari strips, embroidery, mirror work and gold cords.
Source: Kolhart
Image: Shoe-making instruments
Image Description: A piece of brown dyed leather with threads, scissors and other tools
They were originally made using medicinal plants which could impart their properties to the footwear, soothing the foot. Later on, it was found that the leather used absorbed heat, which in turn soothed the foot and the rest of the body!
In the local language of its origin, the Kolhapuri was called a “Pie-taan”; it has picked up different names according to the place of manufacturing, such as Kapashi, Pukari, Bakkalnali & Kachkadi.
Although an original Kolhapuri comes in various shades of leather (due to the vegetable dyes), nowadays the sandals have rapidly become a fashion statement, leading to craftsmen experimenting with various different types of designs, such as gota patti, zari strips, embroidery, mirror work and gold cords.
Source: Kolhart
Image: Silver Kolhapuri shoes
Image Description: Girl wearing silver kolhapuri shoes in green pants
As one of the most diverse footwear out there, one of the best and most beloved things about a Kolhapuri is that it is at once formal and informal. You can wear them to university or college and at hang-outs with friends, but you’re also able to rock them at a wedding or at work! Another aspect that makes it such a cherished item is that a good Kolhapuri is not specific to any season, meaning you can wear them all year round (which is easy, since their production ensures that they’re durable and last you for a long time!).
Here at Kolhart, we strongly believe in nurturing the art of handicraft to maintain our sense of heritage and history. Our mission is to create traditional leather footwear that doesn’t just make a strong statement but redefines what it means to wear Kolhapuri’s with a modern twist.