Footwear was made of various kinds of high-quality leather. The most basic shoes worn by farmers and artisans were made of heavy heavy cowhide.
In the Novgorod cultural layer from the 11th to 13th centuries, shoes that were symmetrical for both right and left feet were discovered with narrow heels [pjatka]. They also found shoes with patterns such as curly or parallel lines.
Shoe Craftsmanship
Archeologists have discovered a variety of pairs (lapti] of shoes with various embellishments during the excavations of villages dating to the medieval period in the north-east of Russia. Embellishment and leather stamping were the most frequent. These were common footwear worn by the peasantry. They were worn with a tightening lace which was swathed around the ankle and a sock that was stitched on.
To make one lapti one person required seven pieces of bast with a length of two meters each. To make these strips, it was required to remove the bark from the entire tree of the linden with no imperfections. The ancient Russians used this metaphor: to stripe as if a tree.
Different regions have their own methods for creating lapti. The Moscow ones were high on the ankles, whereas those of the Northern areas were low with pointed toes. Double layers of bast can be used to create winter lapti.
The 12th century was when shoemakers in Novgorod began to embellish their footwear by using woolen thread and carvings of leather. These patterns consisted of a variety of zigzags, crosses, and triangles.
Leather Shoe Manufacturing
The literature has not paid much attention to the art of shoemaking throughout the middle ages of Novgorod. This could be because of the incredibly limited nature of the archeological materials which are the primary source to study this subject.
The majority of footwear discovered in Novgorod archaeological sites belongs to the 10th-14th century and comprises a range of footwear. The simplest, most basic shoes were made of thick, dense leather and designed for a variety of individuals (artisans as well as farmers). Softer and thinner leather was used for openwork-embroidered footwear.
Stamped designs on the surface of leather were made by using embroidery or leather carving techniques. These were curly designs and rows of parallel or cross-over lines as well as designs that were vegetative. The most sought-after design for openwork footwear was an elegant pair of flowers.
The shoes were also decorated with other embellishments, such as a pair eyes, a ribbon and bow, for instance. A pair of thick soles were sewn onto the shoe to protect feet.
According to the INE statistics, manufacturing output in Russia increased in May 2022 as contrasted with the same time the previous year. The giay da luoi nam footwear and leather industries experienced an increase in production. The growth was largely driven by the demand for footwear that is safe. The Russian company Vostok Service>> produces safety shoes at its two production sites: Torzhok Shoes Factory>>> ZAO in Torzhok (Tver Region) and WorkingStyle>> OOO in Uzlovaya (Tula Region). The company is a distributor authorized by Desma, a German Desma brand. Desma.
Traditional Techniques
The 12th century was Novgorod was a major shoe-making center. From the time of this time there were a variety of shoes like the bog shoe (lapti) ankle boots, and shoes with high sides reaching the ankle (porshni) were found. All of these shoes were made from birch bark, linden bark, oak bark, or the elm. The bark was stripped and cut into strips for weaving.
Based on the way that the leather pieces were positioned face to face or in abutting position and joined with either saddle stitches or hidden stitches. If the upper piece of leather joined with the lower piece and was sewed to it by an abutt seam [Rus. tachnyi shov, tachnyj shov].
Burki (feather-and-felt boots) made of white felt were a different kind of winter-wear. These were worn by upper-class people, which included Party leaders, military commanders generals, government officials and other high-ranking officers.
The 14th century witnessed the demise of simple openwork shoes, in favour of knee-high boots. They were characterized by narrow sections of the heel, tiny openings for threading laces and cuts or holes in the bootlegs for decorative leather straps. The cultural layer in Novgorod has these types of shoes, which were tightened at the ankle using lacing of leather.
Modern Innovation
VV: I think the culture of sneaker in Russia is still pretty young. I think it is developing and the market is expanding. This isn’t like in the 90s, when sneakers were limited to a few Moscow and Saint Petersburg residents who could pay for foreign brands.
Today the Russian footwear industry tries to take on modern trends and technologies by incorporating these into its own production processes. Obuv Rossii, for example created an automated system to make flip-flops and clogs using EVA technology on solid. The system is among the most modern in the field.
Shoemakers are also experimenting with the use of novel materials. Additionally, they are using the most recent IT solutions to boost omnichannel trade and increase the loyalty of customers by providing an array of additional services.
For example, in the near future, the company plans to develop and launch new styles of shoes for children and women. It will be possible to buy shoes with a matching bag, shoe care products and the hosiery. These enhancements are expected to help increase sales, encourage more complex purchases and boost the loyalty of customers.