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Shoe flowers, also known as hibiscus tiliaceus or kerisal, come in many types and designs, making them popular in tropical and subtropical regions. Their durability and water-resistant properties make them essential not just for beauty but for practicality too.
Here are some of the most common types of shoe flowers:
Leis and Corded Shoes
Bracelet or Leis shoes are widely worn in tariqat and Sufi traditions. They are mainly associated with Eastern Malta and the Middle East. Such footwear normally features strings or sturdy straps that are laced in beautiful and complicated ways. They are often less strict in construction than ordinary shoes and carry rich ornamentation. Some of them have additional beading or metal embellishments, ropes, and fabric showing the strong ties of some designs to shoes of sacrifice.
Flip-Flops
Flip-flop designs of shoes are popular everywhere for their simple styles and informal use. Bichag is a traditional flip-flop style from Oman and other Gulf states, made from tanned leather and often barefoot. The simple design comprises two bands or thongs across the foot. Although simple, Bichag is considered sandals of noble birth, and in some conservative areas, nobles strictly reserved these.
Crocs and Wooden Shoes
Barar shoes are wooden shoes associated with several societies, including the Dutch, who have elevated such footwear into culture. Horricoles are shoes that imitate the principle of Balar but are normally made with a rounded wooden base and include intricate and painted designs showcasing scenes of the local culture or pictures of plants.
Piga Shoes
Piga sandals are strapped to the ankle, with a toe ring and back strap for support. They are made of different materials such as fabric, leather, or metal. The design facilitates foot fastening and is ideal for hot weather.
Mujadim Shoes
Mujadim sandals are designed with a comfortable premise in mind. These sandals are closed toe, with straps across the toes and over the instep. People prefer them because they are modern in style and practical as they are closed toe and offer good grip, making them suitable even wear daily.
Chappal
Chappals are still worn widely in India, Pakistan, and other South Asian nations. They normally can be strappy sandals that can be made of leather or synthetic materials. Western chappals tend to have more ornamental features such as metalwork or embroidery, which are integrated into the design according to regional specifics and customs.
The design of shoe flowers, even though they don't have particulars as to runway footwear, concentrates common characteristics such as their look, materials, and ornamentation associated with where they were made and the culture they were derived from. Bichag, for instance, its simplicity of form but is often handcrafted from good leather and woven people and good sandals designed to be secure and solid.
The crops are durable, and the tropical graphics are sweet to look at, and they come in several shades depending on the variety, though red is traditionally dominant. This makes them useful even when the climate is extreme. Barar shoes have rounded or curved wooden shapes as their height, but the designs are painted on the surface, depicting many scenes of history or myth.
Ornamentation of the shoe flowers may or may not be present depending on the type, but every piece is heavily decorated with embroidery, weaving, painting, or beads, regardless of the design's complexity. This embellishment forms so much part of the craftsmanship that it is hard for the people wearing them to distinguish their status. Sufi shoes such as mujadim may also have religious symbols or incantations on certain hikes, especially if those shoes are meant for pilgrimages.
In addition to the decorative uses of the shoe flower as a symbol of the local culture, the flowers have practical uses. The leaves produce a strong and durable fabric, making them an eco-friendly alternative to non-biodegradable materials. In some cases, the flowers themselves can be used to make herbal drinks or medicine, adding to their multipurpose nature. The flowers attract healthy, alien-busting honey bees, which leads to honey production, further enhancing its uses.
As for maintenance, the flowers themselves need quite a care to last longer. Regular watering and well-drained soil are necessary to keep them alive and thriving. Avoiding the excessive shade of other taller and bushier trees helps get ideal sunlight. Pruning helps eliminate dead or diseased branches, and general pruning helps maintain the desired shape of the plant.
Japanese shoes or accessories made from shoe flower tree may need some additional care while storing them, e.g., in a cool dry area without exposure to direct sunlight to prevent discoloration. Depending on the type of shoe flower used, the typical shoe flower and hibiscus tiliaceus based jewelry may require occasional cleaning with a damp cloth to avoid build-ups of dust or tarnish. People should also beware of wearing them in extreme weather conditions as they may result in some damage to them.
Further, the manufacturers of artificial flowers should pay attention to details like the type of adhesive used for making different parts of the flower, the vibrations in the petals, and the colors.
Choosing a shoe flower, whether a genuine shoe flower product or a false one, needs attention to quality, design, and purpose. Genuine shoe flowers are about their craftsmanship and tradition. Understanding the manufacturing material for actual products will ensure satisfaction and durability. In the artificial version, attention should be given to the type of adhesive used, the fabric, and the one who designed them.
For real shoe flower products made from shoe flower trees, aspects such as material, size, and craft details need to be considered. Leather, wood, or anything else has to be of the best quality for the shoe, and people may have to go for expensive items since this is a costly investment. It may also be reasonably wise to consider the work where the art is integrated; products with extreme levels of craftsmanship, including hand weaving or engraving, are more desirable and get more prominent.
For faux shoe flowers, the actual flower and its wood-based products would like items made from silk, plastics, or other high-quality materials. The person looking for the different products should also consider their lifestyle before making a selection, so lightweight and less intricate products are ideal for everyday use, while striking and unique designs are suitable for one-off events. Color matching to the most commonly worn outfits is a practical consideration to make the accessory functional in many attires.
A1: The shoe flower is also called hibiscus tiliaceus, commonly called the sea hibiscus. It is known for its large, showy flowers and leaves. It is called the shoe flower because the flower is used to make an edible gelatinous substance called 'Okra' in some regions of the world.
A2: Anti-diabetics, anti-microbial, and wound-healing properties are attributed to the Shoe flowers.
A3: The shoe flower is good for treating various ailments and conditions, including inflammation, infections, and even certain skin issues. Its flowers and leaves have been used in traditional medicine systems for their therapeutic properties, such as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.
A4: Yes, the shoe flower plant is used as medicine in many regions of the world due to its healing and health-promoting properties.
A5: The English name of shoe flower tea is hibiscus tea.
A6: Yes, Shoe flowers are good for skin problems and ailments.
