Description

Lotus shoes are footwear that were worn by women in China who had bound feet. Until the early 1900s, lotus shoes were primarily made in the home by the women who wore them. They were delicately constructed from cotton or silk, and small enough to fit in the palm of a hand. Shoes that did not have wooden, leather, or metal parts could be made entirely in the home. Lotus shoes were made in different styles and colors, and were typically ornately decorated, with embroidered designs of animals or flowers that could continue on the sole of the shoe.