Dec 25 2024

Compare the Boots!

Comparing yourself with others is, generally, considered non-productive since each person is different, exceptional in their own way. But if urge to compare is stronger than ever, change the subject: compare the boots (they wouldn’t mind…). The boots that are beautifully decorated and carry the wisdom and warmth of generations through ethnic designs and intensive crafting! The boots that excite with all the attention to the owner, when worn! Look at the boots created with several leather crafting technologies and, definitely, with the purpose to impress (and keep an evil eye away).

These boots are crafted with three technologies of applying the leather ornaments: inlay, overlay and mosaic. Inlay and overlay attach colorful leather elements using the machine. Leather mosaic attaches the simplistic decorative cutout pieces from the inside of the boot by hand-stitching. The Tatar leather mosaic is the most complex, intricate and manual labour-intesive. The boots created with the Tatar leather mosaic technology is called shchiteq (shchiteqler for plural) in the Tatar language, the language of the Tatar people, the people who have been mastering the Art of Tatar Leather Mosaic for centuries.

If you want to learn the art of Tatar Leather Mosaic, there are several online resources:

UniqueLeatherMosaic.com (in English),
“Kazan zhoyu” (Kazan stitch) documentary on demand (in Tatar, Russian),
Master-class by Aigel Salakh (in Tatar, Russian),
Video by journalist Iskander Gyilezhev (in Tatar),
Electronic interpretation of seminal book by Liliya Sattarova (in Russian).

QulEse and Bulgari offer master classes in Kazan, Tatarstan, Russian Federation.

If you are interested in custom-made shchiteqler, email to uniqueleathermosaic at gmail.com.

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!

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!

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.

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.