Women's slippers

Title
Women's slippers
Year/Period
1950s
Region
Singapore
Object Type
Dimension
Pls refer to individual parts for measurement
Accession No.
2024-00031
Collection of

"Kasot manek" is the Baba Malay term for beaded slippers. Decorated with the “anak-anak” design, this pair belonged to Alice Choo (1926-2019) and might have been made by her. Choo was taught to bead and embroider at home. The popularity of beaded slippers grew in the 1920s, replacing earlier embroidered slippers. Glass seed beads were produced in Europe, possibly Venice, Lyons or Bohemia. Together with other needlework supplies, they could be purchased from the itinerant haberdasher, the "jarong man", who travelled from house to house hawking his wares. Slipper faces were often sewn at home before they were sent to the shoemakers to be made up into slippers.