Moccasin

For other uses, seeMoccasin (disambiguation).

Contemporary moccasins

Osage(Native American). Pair of Moccasins, early 20th century.Brooklyn Museum

Amoccasinis ashoe,made ofdeerskinor other soft leather,consisting of a sole (made withleatherthat has not been "worked" ) and sides made of one piece of leather,stitched together at the top, and sometimes with avamp(additional panel of leather). Thesoleis soft and flexible and the upper part often is adorned with embroidery or beading.Though sometimes worn inside, it is chiefly intended for outdoor use.

Historically, it is the footwear of many indigenous people ofNorth America;moreover, hunters, traders, and European settlers wore them.Etymologically, themoccasinderives from theAlgonquian languagePowhatanwordmakasin(cognate toMassachusettmohkisson/mokussin,Ojibwamakizin,Mi'kmaqmksɨn),and from theProto-Algonquianword *maxkeseni(shoe).

History

A soft-soled moccasin

In the 1800s, moccasins usually were part of a Canadian regalia, e.g. apowwowsuit of clothes. The most common style is that of thePlains Indiansmoccasin.

Moccasins protect the foot while allowing the wearer to feel the ground. ThePlains Indianswore hard-sole moccasins, given that their territorial geography featured rock and cacti. The eastern Indian tribes wore soft-sole moccasins, for walking in leaf-covered forest ground.

Contemporary use

InNew ZealandandAustralia,sheep shearers' moccasins are constructed of a synthetic, cream-coloredfelt,with a back seam and gathered at the top of the rounded toe. These moccasins are laced in the front, and the lacing is covered with a flap fastened with abuckleat the shoe's outer side. The fastener arrangement prevents the shearer's handpiece comb from catching in the laces.Shearers' moccasins protect the feet, grip wooden floors well, and absorb sweat.

The wordmoccasincan also denote a shoe of deerleatheradorned with laces.

Driving moccasins

Adriving moccasin(driving moc) is a contemporary version of the traditional Native American moccasin with the addition of rubber tabs on the sole. The addition of rubber-pad sole adds to the versatility and longevity of the shoe while maintaining the flexibility and comfort of a traditional moccasin. They were invented for men who wanted extra grip while driving.There are two variations of the sole, including:

• Rubber-dotted- These have a uniform covering of small, round rubber pads.
• Separated Pad- These have larger, flat rubber pads separated by only small areas.

Work boot moccasins

Moc Toe Boots, commonly referred as a "Moc Toe", the boots are normally combined with hard rubber compounded soles. The moccasin toework bootis a style that reflects the Native American moccasin. Normally by weld stitching two pieces of leather or fabric, the pattern creates a U-shaped design around thetoe box.

Gallery

• 
  HopiPueblo(Native American).Dancing Shoes,late 19th century.Brooklyn Museum
• 
  Beaded moccasins original to the estate ofChief Washakie,Wind River Reservation(Shoshone),Wyoming,c.1900
• 
  Crowmoccasins, ca. 1940
• 
  Cheyennemoccasins
• 
  Kiowamoccasins
• 
  Shearers' moccasins on a wool rolling table.

See also

• Slip-on shoe
• Opanci,a type of peasant shoe from Southeastern Europe
• Abarka,traditional leather shoe from Pyrenees
• Walking With Our Sisters,a commemorativeart installationof over 1,763 moccasinvamps

External links

• The Canadian Museum of Civilization – Moccasins
• Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa – Moccasins
• Creek – Seminole moccasins