This is pair of “Kasut Manek”, the literal meaning being “beaded shoes”. As the piece comes with low heels, it is also known as “Kasut Tumit”. 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. More specifically, petit point beadwork is used here. The needle worker uses coloured beads to stitch out patterns drawn onto square paper. Such bead embroidery was usually done on velvet or plain weave cotton and required the use of a frame or ‘pidangan’. The seed beads used here could be “Rocaille beads” or beads made of coloured glass. These are usually spheroidal in shape (compressed at the sides). The main decorative motifs on this piece are two large flower petals, one in pink and the other in orange. It is interesting to note that different gradients of the same colour are used in the creation of each flower motif to give it more natural appeal. These motifs are set against a background of brightly coloured shapes presented in a jigsaw like manner. These slippers were traditionally worn with the “sarong kebaya” (blouse and skirt cloth) or the “baju panjang” (long tunic).
