How the leather for our Kolhapuris is tanned with bark
Before a Kolhapuri is cut, its buffalo hide spends about six weeks in pits of babul bark. Here is what happens in that time.
What to wear on your feet through a Maharashtrian wedding
Haldi, sakharpuda, the wedding day and the reception each ask something different of your feet. A plan for all four.
A Maharashtrian wedding is not one event. Between the sakharpuda, the haldi, the wedding itself and the reception, guests and family can be on their feet for 30 hours over three days, often on marble floors and in hot halls.
For the haldi, wear something you do not mind staining. Turmeric will mark pale leather for good. An old pair of Kolhapuris, or plain rubber chappals, is the sensible choice. For the wedding ceremony, a classic Kolhapuri with a kurta or dhoti is traditional and comfortable, and slips off quickly at the mandap. Women in a nauvari or paithani often choose our red mirror Kolhapuri at ₹1,450, because it has a cushioned layer for long hours.
The reception is where closed shoes come out. A tan or oxblood pair suits a sherwani or bandhgala better than black. Whatever you choose, buy it at least three weeks before the date, so you have time to break it in. New leather on the day of a wedding is the most common reason for blisters we hear about.
Keep a small pouch in the car with plasters, a spare pair of socks and a soft cloth. If the groom is wearing new shoes, slip a pair of cushioned insoles into his bag. He will thank you by the end of the pheras.
