Tools and Raw Materials

Design Resource

Kolhapuri Chappal

Leather Footwear

Prof. Bibhudutta Baral, Divyadarshan C. S., Lija M. G., Vijay G. and Smitha S.

Tools and Raw Materials

Kolhapur the city located in the southern part of Maharashtra is very famous for their chappals. They are usually open-toed chappals stitched with the tail of the buffalo hide and the thickness of the chappal that makes them durable. Tools usually used are for the basic operations of slicing, cutting and sewing of the leather. Different parts of animal hide are used for making various parts of the chappals. The good quality leather gives the chappal a longer duration of usage of the chappal. The improved manufacturing gives a result of better quality production. Also templates for sole, insole, half-sole, instep bar, toe ring strap, etc.

Tools and Raw Materials used for Making of a chappal are:

• Country Hammer: It is used for thumping the sole and foot-bed.

• Punches: Punches for punching design and numbers.

• Stamps: Stamps for stamping logo.

• Rappi (Knife): The leathers are cut according to the required designs by using Rappi.

• Asti (hammer): Metal hammer used for beating the leather.

• Machine: Machine for cutting bubble or hirda.

• Sewing Machine: It is used to stitch the braided parts on the patti’s of the chappal.

• Chandini Punch (Star pogar): It is used to make a design.

• Thodapaekapathi: Thodapaekapathi used to give wave effect or zigzag type of designs patterns.

• Grinder: Grinder are used for smoothening the leather for finishing raw materials.

• Palagana (Kargoti stone): Palagana helps to remove the outer hair of buffalo or cow hide.

• Kurpa (hasiya) and Setall (aari): Thesel are also used as a knife for cutting leather.

• Rubber Powder: Rubber Powder is used for sticking the leather.

• Wooden Sponge: The wooden sponge are dipped into the rubber solution and applied on the leather for pasting.

• Sisal Leaf (Cactus): Sisal Leaves are used to stitch the skin of the buffalo/cow during bag tanning process.

• Nylon Threads: Nylon Threads are used to stitch the chappal according to the customers demand.

• Broom: Broom is used to clean the working area where leather is placed.

• Shoe Cream: It is used for polishing.

• Buffalo Leather: It is foremost raw material for making Kolhapuri chappal.

• Seeds (vinchu) Tree: A particular type of seeds are kept in between two layers of sole, to make sound while walking.

• Chunnna (lime stone): Chunnna are used for smoothening the leather in bag tanning process.

• Red Color Flower: It is used to adorn the chappal.

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Kolhapuri Chappal