Beaded slippers

This is a pair of open-toed beaded slippers or 'kasut manek', with motifs featuring the seven dwarves. Peranakan women, known as Nyonyas, were greatly skilled at embroidery and produced intricately woven beadwork designs. Kasut manek were worn by the Nyonyas to complete their traditional outfit and were especially popular in the 1930s. The slippers were probably worn for celebratory events like the Chinese New Year.The Nyonyas referred to pattern books, fashion magazines and journals, for novel patterns and inspiration. Chinese classical texts, and even children’s books have played a role in introducing new motifs as well as the translation of information into visual form.