After a long hard day, when you are looking forward to relaxing your feet, there is nothing to match the sheer comfort of leather moccasins to give you the feeling of being barefoot. With flexible soft soles and roomier foot beds allowing freedom of movement, moccasins provide the feet an unmatched luxurious feel. Made of leather such as deerskin, sheepskin or cowhide, moccasins allow free circulation of air.
The word moccasin comes from the Algonquin word “makasin” meaning a shoe made of deerskin or any other animal hide. In the past, some North Americans tribes, traders, settlers and hunters wore these skin shoes. There were two types of moccasins used then – soft soled and hard soled. The soft ones worn by the eastern tribes were made from a single piece of soft leather with a seam at the heel and instep, perfect to walk on leaf covered ground in the woods. The plain Indians wore hard moccasins to walk with ease on rocky ground filled with cactuses. These were made by stitching a rawhide sole to a leather upper piece with sinew thread. Each tribe had very distinctive styles and could be recognized by their moccasin tracks. The women from Alaska wore legging moccasins called “mukluks” that nearly reached the hip. Moccasins were earlier decorated with porcupine quills and later with beads, jewellery or embroidery.
Moccasins, today, are available in a wide range of colours, styles and fabrics like suede, faux and genuine leather. They are manufactured with or without sheepskin innersoles, with rawhide laces for a snug fit and the rubber soles provide support to the heel and arch. They are fully or partially beaded, with embroidery, fringe trims and contrast seams.
Handmade or machine made, moccasins are comfortable to wear. Similar to loafers in their construction and style, these are perfect for activities such as camping, fishing, boating, driving or for simply lounging about at home. This footwear comes in the form of boots, slippers and shoes. They are available in deep colours like black, burgundy, mahogany, brown, fuchsia and sage for men, and many colours including red, tulip, ocean, sky blue, lavender and white for women.
Sheep and deer skin moccasins are highly recommended for those with sensitive feet who are prone to corns and bunions. They are also ideal for those with mobility issues such as arthritis, those with a handicap, or those who have recently undergone surgery.
It is wise to have a couple of moccasins in your footwear collection so you can enjoy their comfort at the end of a tiring day.
