Object Upfront: Sami Winter Ankle Boots

For the nomadic Sami herdsmen (the Lapps), the indigenous people of Lapland, reindeer leather was the basic raw material for making clothes. In the 19th century ankle boots were made of fur including the sole and were worn by men who were reindeer herders, women and even children. The pair exhibited in the Ethnographic Museum in Kraków looks brand new although it is over 140 years old.

From the late nineteenth century up to 1960s–1970s the Sami were subjected to assimilation and became a small minority in the Scandinavian countries. The Sami culture today is experiencing a renaissance, and its representatives have begun to demonstrate their identity also through their clothing. Fur boots with an upturned toe have gained popularity in a wave of ethnic fashion.

Today they are worn by representatives of the local elites, young people who want to boast their ethnic roots, as well as those working in the tourist sector. Fur ankle boots can also be purchased as one of the most popular souvenirs in ethnic handicraft shops.