Developed by the proto-turkic nomads in Iron Ages, mastered and promoted by the Volga Bulgars (later called Volga Tatars), exceptional leather crafting, reached its zenith in late 19th-early 20th centuries, when the Volga Tatars refined it to become an exceptional Art of Kaiyly Kün –кайылы күн originally in Tatar. The closest English alternative is Tatar Leather Mosaic. Such terms as inlaid leather, patterned leather, ornamented leather, mosaic leather, узорная кожa are also utilized. Kaiyly Kün is a unique and unprecedented alliance of the Tatar ethnic patterned cutouts of soft colourful leather that are skilfully hand-stitched to create impressive meaningful or abstract designs. The pieces are stacked and attached to each other from the back with so-called Kazan stitch that looks like embroidery on the outside. 

Widely popular and famous  across Europe and Asia in 19th-early 20^th centuries shchiteq– short for kaiyly kün eshchke (shchigelgen) iteq (also referred as Tatar boots, Kazan boots, Asian boots, ichigi )- are crafted using unique Kaiyly Kun (Tatar Leather Mosaic) technology. Worldwide, many museums have examples of antique uniquely-patterned boots created by the Tatar masters in late 18th-early 20th centuries. The boots are labeled as Kazakh, Uzbek, Ukrainian, Russian, Crimean, etc., usually specifying a geographical local the exhibit came from rather than origination of the technology. Successful Tatar leather artisans and entrepreneurs not only manufactures uniquely decorated footwear in Kazan,Tatarstan, but also had travelled far to open workshops in Central Asia, Caucasus, Eastern Europe, cities of Rossiyan Empire. They traded their unique leather footwear making skills, and trained apprentices throughout European and Asian continent.

During the period of Soviet governance (1917-1991) ethnic arts of numerous indigenous minorities (Tatars including) populating the vast territories of now- Rossiyan (Russian) Federation experienced degradation. 21st century has been marked with a great interest to authentic traditional arts, and Kaiyly Kun is not an exception. It has been slowly gaining followers, supporters and admirers. Much is still needed to be done to preserve, revive, and popularize the unique art.

This UniqueLeatherMosaic.com website is aimed to: ♥introduce to English-speaking audience the unique authentic technique;♥ research, document and report about new sources to extend the knowledge; ♥promote the art and find supporters; ♥popularize craftsmanship and hand-work; ♥uncover hidden treasures of the Tatar culture!

This website, initiated in 2010, is being continuously updated with scientifically analysed materials acquired worldwide. It is an effortful attempt to research, summarize, systematize and share the knowledge about unique and under-represented Art of Kayily Kün. A team of academician, practical expert and curious youth – true appreciators of the Art of Kayily Kün – constantly research and promote the unique art of the Tatars with the world in the forms of virtual and physical exhibits, online publishings, presentations. With the choice of publishing academically procured information on easy-accessible platforms (website and Instagram), we make the collective traditional leather craftsmanship of the Tatars the recipient of due accolades, credits and due acknowledgements. 

The art of Kaiyly Kün, as many other collective indigenous creatives, lack appropriate, self-deterministic, unbiased presentation. At the www.UniqueLeatherMosaic.com, we strive to share quality -researched, analysed, systematized – knowledge without pursuit for individual recognition and/or commercial profit. Our goal is to study Kaiyly Kün – the artistic legacy of the (Volga) Tatars – in order to elevate the indigenous/ native/ authentic unprecedented traditional craftsmanship of the Tatars, to educate and to inspire anyone to learn and preserve the artistry.