Cowrie Shell T Strap Sandals, Yellow, Green and Black

Handmade black leather T strap sandals, beaded in yellow, green, white and black, with cream cowrie shells set along the toe post and across the instep. The beadwork is worked in tight arcs that follow the shape of the strap, with cowrie shells running up the toe post and a second group set across the front of the foot. The footbed is stitched right around its edge rather than glued, which is what holds a flat sandal like this together through a summer. They fasten with long flat ties at the ankle, so you can leave them loose or lace them snug for walking. Flat and open, they suit hot weather, a holiday, or a long dress where you want the detail at the foot rather than at the heel. Cowrie shells were used as currency across much of Africa, including the East African coast, so on a Kenyan made sandal they are shells from home waters rather than a borrowed motif. Each pair is beaded by hand, so bead placement and the exact position of the shells vary slightly from pair to pair. Care: keep them dry, wipe the leather with a soft cloth, and store them flat so the beadwork is not crushed.