Punjabi jutti and contemporary adaptations

The use of footwear is as old as civilization. Numerous experimentations through the hands of Indian artisans of various regions, the form of desi jutti or traditional footwear emerged and circulated in numerous designs during ages. Today's transforming approach of arts has been entered in every field of life to revive and modify our traditional handicrafts to justify our present needs and fashions. This paper is an effort to review the origin and glorious past of the handicraft of desi jutti as well new interventions in the handicraft industry, which affected, altered and fluctuated its original form using contemporary designs, materials and modern techniques. This paper is based on review of literature, interview and observation methods. Data is collected through thirty artisans in Ludhiana. Interviews and discussions also have been done with embroiders, boutique workers, sellers as well as experts. Denim is an artificial material and knitted by warp and weft (Zhai, 2011, 1646). Frequent material or adornments can be harmonized to the denim shoe upper (Zhai, 2011, 1645). Brocade, velvet, mashru, cotton and canvas are the fabrics which can be easily dye, decorate, paint and composite material. The work of embellish the upper part of jutti is distinct process and is done by the embroiders and later, craftsmen attach the decorative upper part with the main body of leather jutti with a glue pasted on it and finally, a beautiful product comes in front of us in various designs. Traditional and modern embroiders as well as boutiques are also involved in the designing of juttisto fulfill the needs of customers. Costumers’ demands also influence the designs and manipulate them. Juttis are also made to match the ceremonial dresses of the consumers.