In today’s article, we talk about Nakashi Silver Sandals from Lucknow. Mohammed Hussain is an artisan from Lucknow who is the last generation to hone the art of shoemaking from pure silver.
This art is carried down from one generation to the next for years, and sadly, no one is interested in taking on after him. He claims to be the last silver shoe-making artisan in Lucknow and understands that his art is slowly dying. With the cost of production relatively high and the demand being less, he finds it difficult to make the cut.
In a discussion with Maroof Umar, a heritage storyteller on Instagram, he says that the Nakashi art of silver shoemaking was initially adopted and used by the Nawabs in daily wear. Still, he now only sees popularity in a small sector of bridal couture in Lucknow.
Hussain further explains how his lineage originally came from Iran, settled in Amroha, and later migrated to Lucknow.
The shoemaking process takes about a week to 10 days to make a single pair of silver sandals. The first step is to procure the silver, that is later sent to a machine where sheets and strips are made. After that there is an intricate design carving done on the silver, following the engraving. Gemstones are carefully placed and are sent out to fitting work done by someone else. There they assemble the sandals and turn them into a finished product.
Ever since this diminishing art has been posted on social platforms, they received more orders than usual.
For anyone who understands the grave importance of encouraging a dying art, especially a local and a fellow Indian- it feels wrong to gatekeep this fine art that hopes to reinforce its dying form.
+91 88405 51025- This is his son’s number and if you need to make an order, it can be shipped anywhere.
References for this article have been taken from the Instagram handles of Shenaz Treasury and Maroof Umar.