“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’. Floral and bird motifs are commonly featured on Peranakan material culture, from slippers to other larger forms of beadwork, textiles and even furniture carvings. In particular, certain flowers and birds are considered very auspicious.
