Category Uncategorized

Dec 16 2014

Kazan is TripAdvisor’s Destinations on the Rise

What can be more exciting than to find out from the coworker that my home town is one of 10 top places to travel in the world and she wants to visit Kazan the sooner the better!

Kazan_Bulak

Downtown Kazan, Russia

TripAdvisor (an American website that provides reviews of travel-related content) named Kazan, Russian Federation, as its #8 Traveler’s Choice Destinations on the Rise. in 2015. This award highlights spots around the world that have received the greatest increase in positive feedback and interest from TripAdvisor members over the years. CNN notes that historic Kazan “along the Volga River has stunning architecture to admire, including the Kazan Kremlin, which offers “a mix of Orthodox Christian and Muslim cultures”.

Indeed, Kazan city presents fascinating, peaceful and empowering collaboration of various cultures, religions, traditions and mindsets.

Chiteks – gorgeous and comfortable

Among many attractions and works of art that Kazan offers, there is an exceptional, unique and functional one created centuries ago by the Tatars – the Art of Leather Mosaic.

These one-of-a-kind shchiteqler (Tatar boots) are created through a complex process of stitching genuine leather patterns by hands with so-called Kazan stitch and golden twisted threads. The patterns are build up into sophisticated designs that incorporate motifs of Islamic art traditions. Tatar boots look impressively beautiful and exceptional on one’s legs!

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Chiteks – cosy, warm and cute!

If Kazan is on your 2015 travel list, and if you want to own a pair or two of Tatar boots and to see how chiteks are created, email me at uniqueleathermosaic@gmail.com.

Oct 17 2014

Exceptional boot is called shchiteq

When you google “boot”, tons of images of different boots come up: fancy, classy, ugly, modern, in all shapes and colors. But the boots that are created using unique leather mosaic technique do not… It can be because the boots, that this website is dedicated to, belong to a different category that embodies a unique collaboration of footwear and art.

New Sah boots

shchiteqler made by Sahtian

This exceptional footwear category is shchiteq (kauly run shchigelgen iteq – full version). The word shchiteq (“shch” is pronounced as in “Chicago“ or  “c” in “appreciate“) comes from the Tatar language word читек (with pronunciation as “щитэк”, Russified versions of “ичиг”, “ичитыг” are also in use) is an abbreviation of чигелгән итек (shchigelgen iteq). It literally means a “decorated/ embroidered boot”.

A shchiteq is made from soft colored leather and ornamented with the Tatar-inspired cutout designs that are  stitched together by hands from the inside”. The technique is unique and sophisticated that no other ethnic people but the Tatars have mastered it over the centuries. Shchitekler (“ler” is for plural form in Tatar language) are popular in Tatarstan, Russia, and highly treasured by their owners because one can “conquer the world” in them. The word читек is googalabe. But shchiteq is not yet…  It will be wonderful if the association of boot with shchiteq becomes recognizable, so acknowledgement and due credits are offered to the Tatar people who had originated and mastered the unique craft of Tatar Leather Mosaic and has been working hard for centuries to keep it alive.made by Sahtian

 

Aug 11 2014

Better way to get away from politics

 

At the times when it is so confusing and upsetting to watch news and follow politics, I always turn my eyes to the art and… shoes…. I feel so lucky to own this pair of flats that is so beautiful, comfortable and excepional. IMG_1761

And they are piece of art…. unique art. This shoes are hand-made – every bits of them – by craftsmen from Sahtiyan.IMG_1743

The three-colored flower ornament is designed using the best traditions of Tatar folk patterns.

The patterns are cut out and stitched together from inside by hands using silk threads of different colors.

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this is how the ornament looks inside

 

Let me know (UniqueLeatherMosaic@gmail.com)

if you want to own something like this and  I will make sure you have it!

Mar 13 2014

25 cultures in one spot!

Do you know that almost every school in the area called Research Triangle Park (RTP) in North Carolina can boast of population of students whose families come from so many different cultures and countries? Local communities here in RTP: kids and adults – are exposed to such an exceptional and unique mixture of languages, cultures, traditions, arts, music and flavors from all around the world.

Tonight, my son’s elementary school hosts an International Festival – an exciting celebration of more than 25 cultures and countries! Kids and their parents will have an amazing opportunity to explore the cultures of the world from first hands without leaving US! What a treat!

international festival in elementary school

The Tatar culture is represented in the 2013 International Festival

Flags in the school hallway represet countries of students' heritage

Flags in the school hallway represent countries of students’ heritage

Oct 15 2013

Tatar Leather Mosaic at Raleigh International Festival

This year the introduction of Tatar culture and arts at the 28th annual International Festival in Raleigh, North Carolina has become inevitable because the theme was “Art, Crafts and Music”. The Tatars have so much to share and to be proud of! There are several unique art techniques that the Tatars developed, among which Tatar leather mosaic takes the special place. This year the festival was attended by over 25000 guests. Debutant of the festival -Tatar cultural exhibit – was warmly welcomed and heavily visited. Amazing volunteers from different cultural backgrounds (Tatar, American, Uzbek, Indian, Chinese…) helped to put together and run the booth.

Boot showcase

Explaining that the boot has been stitched by hand

Over 3 days we explained our guests who are the Tatars, where majority of them live, why Tatar culture is different from Russian, what are the arts and crafts that Tatars are accountable for. We showcased Tatar leather mosaic, embroidery, weaving, jewelry, book illustrations. We gave opportunity to listen to Tatar music, to repeat Tatar dance moves and to decorate paper boots; aprons and hats by very own Tatar ornamental patterns.  We observed such emotions as surprise, when guests learned about the ethnic group the majority have never heard before; the excitement, when the guests realized that they discovered something new and interesting; the amazement, when they saw how the leather mosaic is created… I, particularly, will never forget the big amazed eyes of a young girl when she realized that all the boots in the exhibits were made by hand.

I hope this first experience of showcasing Tatar arts and crafts to such broad American audience is a good start in changing stereotypical associations of Tatars with Mongols, warriors and peace breakers. I want Tatars to be well-known as peaceful, creative, innovative, sport-loving and caring people with culture and arts to be inspired and strived for.

I want to thank everyone who supported and encouraged me to organize and run the exhibit! I am, particularly, expressing my cheers to an exceptional American girl – Lily – whose incredible desire to learn and enjoy Tatar language, whose unimaginable inner power and strong and humble personality inspire me to diligently spread the word about the Tatars and their rich and mesmerizing culture.