Kolhapuri chappal explained

Kolhapuri chappals are Indian decorative hand-crafted and braided leather slippers that are locally tanned using vegetable dyes. Kolhapuri Chappals or Kolhapuris as they are commonly referred to are a style of open-toed, T-strap sandal, but also braided leather Mules or braided leather shoe type designs are also common.

History

The origin of Kolhapuri Chappals dates back to 12th century when the King Bijjala and his prime minister Basavanna encouraged Kolhapuri Chappal production to support local cordwainers. According to historic records, Kolhapuris were first worn as early as the 13th century. Previously known as Kapashi, Paytaan, Kachkadi, Bakkalnali, and Pukri, the name indicated the village where they were made.[1]

Shahu I of Kolhapur (and his successor Rajaram II) encouraged Kolhapuri Chappal industry and 29 tanning centres were opened during his rule.[2]

GIS tag

In July 2019 Kolhapuri chappals got a geographical indication tag from the Controller General of Patents, Designs & Trade Marks. These chappals were first made in Kolhapur but artisans from Karnataka are also involved in making Kolhapuri chappals for centuries. Districts such as Kolhapur, Sangli, Satara and Solapur districts of Maharashtra as well as Bagalkot, Belgavi, Dharwad and Bijapur district of Karnataka will only be able to carry the tag of "Kolhapuri chappal".[3] [4] [5]

Production process & market

It can take up to six weeks to make a pair of Kolhapuris.[6] Originally made from buffalo-hide and thread, they weighed as much as 2.01 kilos because of the thickness of the sole, which made them durable despite the extreme heat and mountainous terrain found in the state of Maharashtra.[7]

For making Kolhapuri Chappal various operations are done step by step like skiving, pattern making and cutting, attachment of upper and bottom heels, stitching, finishing, punching and Trimming, decoration and Polishing, and assembling. Kolhapuri chappals are known to last a lifetime if maintained well and not used in rainy seasons.

In 2020, the total business market was estimated at around 9 crore, with over 10,000 artisans working in Kolhapur. Of the total six lakh pairs produced annually, 30% were exported.[8] The designs have moved from the ethnic to ones with more utilitarian value and materials from primal hard materials to softer and more comfortable to wear materials. The artisans themselves designed ethnic patterns and sold, but today the traders and businessmen with demand for cheap products drive the requirement of minimalist designs.

In recent decades, the business has struggled for survival with market decline, low profits, irregular leather supply, duplicates & fakes, environmental regulations on tanneries, cow slaughter ban, among other issues.[9] [10] [11] [12]

Design & market trends

In the seventies, with the Hippie movement Kolhapuri chappals became a very popular footwear in the United States. The success faded out and recently came back influencing now models that are called toe ring sandals.[13] [14] A French brand called CHAPPAL exports these traditional sandals in various colors and with a feminine design to France to make it popular in that country. [15]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: History of Kolhapuri Footwear . Indian Mirror . 1 February 2017 . 2 February 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170202145727/http://www.indianmirror.com/culture/indian-specialties/kolhapurifootwear.html . live .
  2. News: Dore . Bhavya . Chappal therapy . 22 December 2021 . . June 23, 2019 . en . 22 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211222222938/https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/opinion/sunday-read/chappal-therapy/articleshow/69909706.cms . live .
  3. Web site: Kolhapuris: The famous leather chappal get Geographical Indication tag - Geographical Indication tag. 19 July 2019. The Economic Times. 2019-07-21. 21 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190721114230/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/kolhapuris-the-famous-leather-chappal-get-geographical-indication-tag/geographical-indication-tag/slideshow/69855278.cms. live.
  4. News: Patil . Abhijeet . 21 June 2019 . Kolhapuri chappal gets GI tag after decade-long wait . 25 December 2019 . The Times of India . en . 5 January 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200105013906/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolhapur/Kolhapuri-chappal-gets-GI-tag-after-decade-long-wait/articleshow/69885776.cms . live .
  5. News: Namma Kolhapuri chappal gets GI boost . 25 December 2019 . The New Indian Express . 25 December 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191225193540/https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2019/jun/19/namma-kolhapuri-chappal-gets-gi-boost-1992139.html . live .
  6. Web site: Kolhapuri Chappals - Chappals.co.uk . 28 June 2016 . 7 July 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160707063147/http://www.chappals.co.uk/kolhapuri/ . live .
  7. News: Sangam . Sowmya . Cool Kolhapuris popular as ever in Hyderabad . 22 December 2021 . . 29 January 2021 . 22 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211222221445/https://telanganatoday.com/cool-kolhapuris-popular-as-ever-in-hyderabad . live .
  8. News: Gayakwad . Rahul . Kolhapuri chappal artisans stare at uncertain future . 22 December 2021 . . June 22, 2020 . en . 22 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211222221435/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolhapur/kolhapuri-chappal-artisans-stare-at-uncertain-future/articleshow/76507529.cms . live .
  9. News: Sriram . Jayant . The last original Kolhapuris . 22 December 2021 . . 8 July 2017 . en-IN . 22 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211222221435/https://www.thehindu.com/society/the-last-original-kolhapuris/article19231770.ece . live .
  10. News: Fading footprint of Kolhapuri chappals . 22 December 2021 . ETRetail.com . February 1, 2016 . en . 22 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211222221439/https://retail.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/apparel-fashion/footwear/fading-footprint-of-kolhapuri-chappals/50801418 . live .
  11. News: Gokhale . Parth . Welankar . Pratham . Iconic Kolhapuri chappals in a fight for survival . 22 December 2021 . . 27 April 2019 . en . 22 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211222221435/https://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/iconic-kolhapuri-chappals-in-a-fight-for-survival/story-OBvTgxmegJ0X0qobb1NQLL.html . live .
  12. News: Nair . Remya . Sindoor to papad, lungis to Kolhapuri chappals, it's all made in China today . 22 December 2021 . . 8 April 2019 . 22 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211222221435/https://theprint.in/economy/sindoor-to-papad-lungis-to-kolhapuri-chappals-its-all-made-in-china-today/217252/ . live .
  13. News: Paitandy . Priyadarshini . Can your footwear be vegan too? . 22 December 2021 . . 13 July 2019 . en-IN . 22 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211222221435/https://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/luxury/can-your-footwear-be-vegan-too/article28422709.ece . live .
  14. News: Kulkarni . Dhaval . Kolhapuris to get a French accent . 22 December 2021 . . August 27, 2017 . en . 22 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211222221435/https://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-kolhapuris-to-get-a-french-accent-2540934 . live .
  15. News: About us Chappal.fr . fr .

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