Carding Wool
The process of felting begins with large pieces of "carded" wool. Carding is a process that uses many small needles to take cleaned wool and make it fluffy and uniform. At this point, it is quite fluffy and loose. The "felting" process uses soapy water and agitates this wool. When this happens, the wool fibers hook and weave together. This shrinks the wool and results in a denser and firmer wool product.
Three Methods
Rolled Felt, Cut & Sewn Felt, and Traditional Weaving are the three methods used to create our Kyrgies shoes
Rolled Felt
Rolled felt slippers start with the carded wool being cut into large patterns and sewn together. Think of a slipper that is maybe 3x the size of a normal slipper. This carded wool sewn into an extra large slipper shape is felted. In the process, the slipper shrinks significantly and has to be stretched on a mold where it dries and takes its ultimate form.
The rolled felting process results in a slipper without any seems. They are made of firm and durable wool felt that will soften with wear.
Rolled felt styles include: Kyrgies Classics, Kyrgies Molded Soles, Kyrgies All Naturals, Nomads
Rolled Felt Shoes
Cut and Sewn Felt
Large sheets of wool felt are made from carded wool. Great care is taken to make sure that these sheets are uniformly thick. Patterns are then cut out of these sheets that are sewn into slipper shapes.
The cut and sewn process creates products that are more lightweight, softer, and more pliable than our rolled felt products.
Our cut and sewn styles include: Tengries, Tengries Walkabouts, and Slides.
Cut and Sewn Felt Shoes
Weaved Felt
Our durable wool Wovens house shoes are created through an intricate spinning, weaving, and hand sewing process. Designed to harness the warmth, moisture-wicking, and long-wearing properties of the valley’s local wool.
Wovens reflect our commitment to supporting the craft traditions and communities of Kyrgyzstan. The process of making this product is based on the traditional "zhalpy" weaving technique on the traditional Ormek collapsible loom. This technique is found in the remote Alay Valley of southern Kyrgyzstan.
Learn More About Kyrgies
Craftsmanship
Our products enhance the homes of our customers and contribute to the preservation of Central Asia's cultural heritage.
Find Your Fit
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The Making of Kyrgies Wovens
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