“Kasut Manek” (beaded shoes or slippers) were traditionally worn with the “sarong kebaya” (blouse and skirt cloth) or the “baju panjang” (long tunic). The slipper face is covered with bead embroidery or threading. This is a technique where coloured seed beads are stitched onto a base fabric using needle and thread. The seed beads used were usually Rocaille beads imported from Europe. These were made of glass and faceted. Such bead embroidery was usually done on velvet or plain weave cotton and required the use of a frame or ‘pidangan’. The provenance of this pair of slippers is Yangon, Burma. Nonyas from this region seem to use deeper shades of colour more freely than those in the Straits Settlements, as demonstrated in the darker shade of blue beads used here. The beads are used here to form the motif of a swastika, which is a Buddhist symbol that represents a mark made to denote good luck and well being.
