A warm and cosy pair of moccasins is a welcome sight:
There’s nothing quite like a comfortable pair of moccasins, but it for wandering around the house in the winter, or for stepping out to the shops. The cosy foot warmers we wear for indoor use are normally soft, with a lining of wool. The ones for out side are made of stronger stuff, and are able to withstand the hard use. The moccasin is quite unique and came from the North American Indians who made the foot wear from animal skins. It’s a simple idea and with the tied lace around the front, the tribes could make the moccasins easily.
Nowadays of course there are not the animal skins around, and there is bound to be a rule which says manufacturers cannot use certain animal skins. The most likely material now is the soft synthetic materials and a fibre based wool inside. There may well be a mix, but pure wool would be the favourite material. As in any clothing the difference between man made materials and natural fibres is huge. The man made things are never quite as good as the natural materials which come off the back of an animal. The pure wools from sheep and cashmere goats is far superior to anything man can make and in the moccasin trade, the best ones are made with the best wool linings. The stitching around the front and heel of the moccasin is also important as this takes the greatest strain. The laced stitching should be strong and durable.
Cheap versions of the moccasin can quickly deteriorate and over time the stitching or laces get loose. That leads to a very sloppy moccasin which is warm, but not that great as a piece of footwear. In the colder countries a pair of moccasins waiting at the front door is a welcome sight. Having been in the office all day, or walking around as a sales person, your feet will be suffering. Shoes are fine, but after a while they inevitably lead to aching feet, especially if standing all day. Coming home to a cosy pair of warm moccasins makes your feet feel so much better. A good way to really help with aching feet is to bathe then in some natural herbal soak water for about 15 minutes. Then you can dry off, put on some talcum powder and step into your moccasin. Your feet will feel wonderful and ready for a quiet night in front of the television, watching a favourite movie.
The long history of the moccasin has taken it from the wild prairies of the North American states and Canada, and led it to the suburban comforts of the modern world. It’s quite a journey, but essentially the piece of footwear made by hand by the First Nation peoples of Canada, remains the same.