Unveiling the Evolution of Leather Shoe Manufacturing in Russia

In the course of excavations at Nerevskij End remnants of beamhouses and shoemakers’ workshops were found. Shoes made of leather dating that date back to the 11th-16th century were also discovered.

The process of preparing leather for shoemaking starts by soaking. The hide was then cleaned of any remaining subcutaneous and flesh tissue using iron adszes.

Russian shoemaking traditions

Shoemakers started using various kinds of baste as early as the 12th century. The bark from birch, oak, the linden tree or the elm tree was cut off and mixed with bast. Then, it was stored. The bark was later cut into strips and was used to weave the lapti. The strips can be weaved in either in a diagonal or straight pattern and shoes could be embellished with embroidering or stamping.

Lapti was the most popular shoe for the commoner. The ease, comfort, and cost-effectiveness of these shoes helped make them very popular. They were worn out until the beginning of the Russian Civil War. Then the mass production of leather shoes was manufactured to replace them.

Porshni was a low-heeled shoe that were very popular during the 16th-17th centuries. The type of shoe was only found in the urban excavations. They were made of rawhide ox, however they included a felt top and the sole was made of leather.

The leather shoe industry in Russia

In the 11th and 10th century, Novgorod’s tanners made rawhide. Rawhide was not dyed, but rather was made into a paste of fat, then was soaked. Leatherworkers made belts, tackles and a basic style of footwear known as “bog shoes”. porshni]. The the symmetrical shoe (left and right) discovered in the excavations indicate that the shoemakers made use of an exclusive last for shaping the stone.

The earliest bogs featured designs stamped on the sides that resembled the shape of a pouch. kosheliok, koshelek). It was a common method to embellish leather. The designs were then embroidered with silk or wool thread.

Novgorod is where the earliest leather shoes that have been preserved in Russia were discovered. The shoes were distinct: some were extremely low and only reached the ankles, other had a collar that wrapped around the ankle like boots. They were worn by the aristocratic class, boysars, and other characters depicted in monuments.

Lapti was a popular kind of shoe among the Russian peasants in the middle ages. Old, worn-out lapti would be placed on fences or inside houses to ward off the evil spirits that an unwelcome guest could bring. Old lapti can also be utilized to move the domovoi, also known as house spirit, from one house to another in the course of a move.

The evolution of Russian leather footwear

The archaeological evidence suggests that Novgorod shoemakers produced shoes for all kinds of people such as peasants and artisans. They also created shoes for princes of wealth and boyars depicted in art works. The skill of shoemakers improved significantly between the 11th and 12th century. The early shoes featured simple designs and embroidery. They were replaced by more intricate designs.

The 13th century was when soft shoes were introduced (Rus. porshni]. In the burial sites of Vjatichi the remains of shoes with soles that were flat have been discovered and refer more info in this website https://www.mulgati.com/. The upper, sole, heel quarter and bootleg of these shoes are constructed of a more flexible and elastic leather that is more flexible than the sole. Between these two halves of the shoe, a lining (podnariad or podnarjad] was sewn.

The Russian leather (lapti) that is used in the shoes is a distinct characteristic. The leather was made of animal hides that were tanned using barks of oak, birch and linden, among others. The leather was renowned for its longevity with a distinct scent and distinctive hatched texture.

The 16th and 17th centuries saw the advent of different types of footwear in Europe. They became the norm winter shoes of Russian peasants during the 19th century. They remain worn with traditional Russian clothes and represent Russian culture. They are made of premium natural leather. They feature an asymmetrical last that is in line with the posture of the foot. They also leave the space for toes.

Russian shoe brands

The production of leather shoes in Russia is more than 10 percent of the industry for footwear. The increasing demand for shoes made of leather that are top quality has made it one of Russia’s most significant industries. To meet the growing demand, a number of companies in the industry of leather shoes have sprung up in Russia. Vakhrushi-Litobuv and Technoavia are two of the firms based in Yoshkar-Ola.

Vakhrushi-Litobuv is a major Russian supplier of safety footwear made from leather. It sells its shoes to Mosvodokanal>> Management Company LLC and North-West>>> PJSC and Bashkiravtodor>>> JSC. It also offers a range of leather casual shoes.

Technoavia is in operation since 1992. The facility located in Yoshkar-Ola is outfitted with four Desma injection molding machines, which allow it to make shoes with PU/PU or PU/TPU bottoms. Technoavia also makes the sole safe boot made of leather that is insulated in the world.

It was the first company to utilize “Russian Leather” which is a type of leather that is constructed out of the skins of Southern German cows and sealed by oil and wax. The leather has a deep deep, deep color that ranges from deep claret to sienna. It has a distinct sweet smell. It is extremely robust and resistant to staining.