“Jutti” (also spelled as Jhutti, Juthi, Juti) is an Urdu word for a shoe with a closed upper attached to a sole. Inherently Punjabi and typically Indian, the jutti, also known as ‘mojari and ‘nagra’, is traditional footwear worn mostly in North India. Originally made out of pure leather and have exquisite embroidery and additional embellishments that give it a unique appeal. From day to day wear, weddings, religious occasions, to parties and festivals, juttis provide an essential ethnic appeal to the person wearing them. Origin Jutti or nagra was first patronized by the Mughals and were extremely popular amongst the kings and the queens who belonged to the richest era of Indian history. Rajasthan in particular was a hub, where the making of these exquisite shoes first originated. The style of Jutti back then was far more ornate and rich in texture and design which incorporated fine gems, stones, and precious pearls. With the passage of time, nagra shoes gained a lot of popularity in Punjab, and underwent through various forms of experimentation and innovation. The Making Exclusively handcrafted by skilled craftsman who primarily hail from Punjab, the making of Juttis is a tedious task. Construction of one pair of juttis involves people from different communities: the “Chamars”, who process raw hides which are used along with a vegetable dyeing process. The “Rangaars”, color and paint it while the “Mochis” assemble the pieces together and do the final stitching and embroidery. Earlier, Juttis were embroidered with pure gold and silver wires all over, popularly … Continue reading Jutti, Mojari & Nagra