"Exquisite little shoes in the air" Why did ancient China literati prefer embroidered shoes?

Among these exquisite little shoes, China ancient literati preferred embroidered shoes, because embroidered shoes on ancient land in China changed from matriarchal society to paternal society, forming a social division of labor. The ancient embroidery shoe technology has been passed down from generation to generation.

The embroidery decoration of embroidered shoes follows the aesthetic fashion of oriental embroidered shoes, and pays attention to the placement law of uppers, which matches with the decorative strips at the bottom of the mouth. Embroider gorgeous patterns from toes to heels, even soles and insoles with colorful silk threads. The theme of embroidered shoes comes from life, and the main theme is folk culture and folk customs. The basic reference objects are flowers, birds, insects, animal claws, flowers, fruits, mountains, rivers, opera figures and so on. Auspicious cases include lotus, durian, butterfly, dragon and phoenix, etc. It means praise for life and a happy life.

After the May 4th Movement, foot binding was gradually abolished, and women regained the autonomy of their feet and put on embroidered shoes of normal size. However, because embroidered shoes are uppers made of precious silk and satin, embroidered with silk and flowers and birds, they are patented products of rich wives and daughters. In the Neolithic Age more than 5,000 years ago, leather boots entered the historical stage of the Chinese nation. Then, with the different times and regions, the materials and styles of footwear are also different. For example, pointed shoes, double-toothed clogs and lace-up shoes are all pilgrimage shoes worn by Manchu women in Qing Dynasty, leather boots above ankles and flowerpot shoes. Are the products of different times.

In the 1940 s, dignitaries were still the main ethnic group wearing embroidered shoes. The service mode is customization, that is, measuring the size of customers' feet, customers choose colors and embroidery patterns, and then give them to someone to draw. Then the embroiderer embroidered the pattern according to the pattern, cut it out and sewed it on the vamp. Finally, cut the leather into the shape of the sole, spread a layer of cloth bottom, and sew the upper and sole. This is a pair of pure color embroidered shoes made by both hands. After that, embroidered shoes gradually became custom soles. Coupled with the appearance of plastic and super glue, the sole has changed from leather to cheap plastic, and the upper and sole can be bonded with super glue, saving production time and slowly lowering the price. Embroidered shoes became the most popular fashion at that time.

In recent years, embroidered shoes industry has fallen to the bottom. Nobody knows when the fashion trend will turn to embroidered shoes again. However, because it is difficult to find female embroidery workers, manual embroidery is gradually replaced by electronic embroidery. Hand embroidered embroidered shoes will become more and more difficult to find in the future.