Soft and comfortable Straw Sandals of Mulao Ethnic Group

Preference and Main Types of Straw Sandals

The Mulao people (仫佬族) have a fondness for straw sandals, for they are soft, comfortable and highly breathable, allowing people to walk with ease. The straw sandals woven by local Mulao artisans come in a rich variety of styles, including ox tendon straw sandals, nine-layer leather straw sandals, Chinese alpine rush straw sandals, rattan straw sandals, jute straw sandals, grain stalk straw sandals, bamboo straw sandals, cotton thread straw sandals and wool straw sandals.

Featured Traditional Straw Sandals

Among all categories, bamboo straw sandals, cotton thread straw sandals and wool straw sandals stand out as the most distinctive styles, which remain in use to this day.

Bamboo Straw Sandals

Bamboo straw sandals are crafted from woven bamboo strips. The production procedures are as follows: First, roast tender bamboo over fire to soften it. Next, peel off the bamboo skin with a knife and split it into fine filaments. Give the filaments a gentle beat and leave them to dry thoroughly.

To weave the sandals, craftsmen need a strap, a curved bow and a small stool. A T-shaped rack is fixed in front of the stool, with four iron rods hung on it. Weaving starts from the toe part, then moves on to the main body of the sandal, and five threading loops are set in place. Finally, thread the two shoe uppers connected to the main body through the loops respectively.

The weaving techniques are simple and practical, yet the finished sandals are extremely durable. They are ideal for traveling on rugged mountain trails and mossy stone paths.

Cotton Thread Straw Sandals & Wool Straw Sandals

Cotton thread straw sandals and wool straw sandals are elaborately made. They share a similar basic shape with ordinary straw sandals. Their soles are mainly made of cloth, while the vamps are woven with colorful cotton threads or wool threads.

Cotton thread straw sandals are worn by young men when they take part in outdoor social activities or go to rural fairs. Wool straw sandals are decorated with large wool pom-poms at the toe, and they are the preferred footwear for young women on such occasions.

These two types of sandals are a traditional symbol of unmarried Mulao young men and women. When young men see girls wearing wool straw sandals, they may sing folk songs to express their admiration and courtship.