Makers of the Famed Patiala Jutti

A shoe-maker's wife sorts and stacks finished juttis while watching television in her room. While men do the actual making of the shoe, women help with decoration and ancillary tasks.

Aman Kumar is a young artisan who pursues a degree in education while he practises his craft. There are many youngsters like him who have not abandoned their traditional skill, testimony
to the continuing demand and viability of the craft.

Jutti making is beginning to move out of the house, to small workshops like this one in Patiala called The Jutti Factory.

Here, four craftsmen sit together working on different aspects of shoe making.

Each artisan is specialised in a different part of the process. In the picture, the artisan in the foreground is engaged in cutting out a pattern; behind him one craftsman uses a mallet to stick together layers of leather and lining, while the other punches out a design.

Workshops also tend to be informal, often attached to or near the artisans' homes.

Once the basic form of the jutti is made, it is embellished by women artisans. Here, a craftswoman hand paints designs on shoes.

Even in areas where jutti making is now done in workshops, women take the juttis home to work on decoration. Often, a group of women gathers together, chatting and working in an informal relaxed environment.

Jutti stores in Top Khana Mor locality of Patiala city. Small shops selling juttis abound in areas where this traditional footwear is made.

Different styles of locally crafted juttis on display.

Read more about Patiala's Jutti making tradition here:

- The Making of the Patiala Jutti
- Women Add a Special Touch to the Jutti