Uygur women generally wore long boot, made from leather or embroidered fabric, with high heels in winter. This pair of luxurious boots (T.31D, E-1932) and overshoes are covered with red and green silk velvet, applied in a scrolled pattern, with the upper sections in a turquoise cotton fabric, embroidered in chain stitch with floral and wave patterns. The uppers and toe caps of the overshoes are edged with dyed-green donkey leather, and neatly trimmed with tufts of coloured wool.
In Xinjiang, shoemaking was generally carried out by men with skills that had been handed down in the family, although the industry could also be entered through an apprenticeship. Overshoes such as these were primarily worn by the wealthy, and formed part of the toyluq, or gifts presented to the bride by the groom’s parents. The overshoes protected the boots and were also practical: Uygurs would remove their shoes or outer slippers when entering a mosque to pray, a practice made easier by wearing overshoes.