These pretty shoes adorn the feet of many local women. You
may have had a chance to see and purchase a pair when I was home. Thanks to a special order,
now you have the opportunity to see how they're made and the people who make
them.
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| Cowhide is prepared for shoe making. |
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| The leather is more intricately shaved and prepared. |
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| Ladies in the village create beautiful bead designs. |
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| Both men and women in the city also prepare beautiful bead designs. |
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| These are your's, Tricia, prepared especially for you. |
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| Men cut the shoe shape using wood foot molds for size. |
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| They pound the letter-design around the edge of the shoe using a metal die and a hunk of plastic. |
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| These are yours, Tricia. |
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| They feed the straps through holes punched into the shoe and fit them on these forms. |
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| It's usually a production line type process, but Tricia needed tiny size and so hers were made special. |
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| Glue the straps down to the bottom of the shoe. |
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| Stick the shoes on the sole rubber and cut. |
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| Sandals for sale. Market vendors usually purchase their shoes here and take them to the wazungu market to sell. |
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| Tricia and Friends shoes...Compared to theirs, my feet look huge...but pretty. |
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| Your finished shoes, Tricia. |