Felt Slipper Boots

Description

This listing is for a custom made pair of mens or womens seamless, wet felted slipper boots with leather soles. The ones in the picture are brownish/gray boots with orange/brown leather soles. This design is purposefully made without laces and will pull off and on easily. This is a huge advantage if you are like me and detest tying shoes. The tops can also be folded down for a more shoe like look. Alternatively, they can be flipped up for a more boot like look and added warmth for cold ankles. Please be advised that, although we make every effort to match the boot color in the picture, there may be some slight differences. This is due to individual fleece colors and characteristics, as no two sheep or their fleeces are the same.

The soling is made with heavy duty elk hide leather, which we cut and hand sew onto each boot. This enables them to be worn outdoors much like a moccasin, though in dry conditions only. They are perfect for a walk in the woods on a dry day, on the town, or around the house. For additional protection from the elements we can add a rubber sole (see custom options below for details). This will substantially increase the conditions they can be worn in. Inside each boot we include a hand sculpted, removable, orthopedic foam foot bed. We make these foot beds using a special orthopedic memory foam which, over a period of days will compress and sculpt itself to the shape of your foot.

Every part of these boots is designed and hand crafted by myself and my husband. From the shoe lasts, used for shaping, to the soling and of course the boots themselves. We start with an organic, locally purchased sheep fleece then proceed to sort,wash and hand card it, using a drum carder, into usable wool batts. Eventually we felt and shape it into a durable and beautiful boot. Each boot is made using four layers of wool, totaling a pound all together. This makes them extremely durable and amazingly warm. However, due to the fact that they are made of wool, a breathable material, they can be worn just as comfortably in warm weather.

Wet felting is a traditional and ancient art-form. The process involves layering wool then agitating it by massaging with hot soapy water to make a cohesive fabric. For boots, it is then molded over a foot or shoe last. The process is very labor intensive but creates a strong and durable fabric that has been used for centuries, in everything from tents (gers) to clothes.

If you are interested in ordering please read the information below carefully. We also offer gift certificate packages that are perfect for the holidays and allow the recipient to custom design their own boot.

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ORDERING

Payment Options
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If You would like to order a pair of boots simply add to cart and pay using your preferred method of payment. We require at least a 50% non refundable deposit, with the remainder due when the boots are completed. If you would rather pay in full that is fine to. To order simply add them to your cart and either pay in full or send an email indicating your interest in the payment plan. We will then send you an invoice for half the amount of the purchase.

Make sure to write in the "message to seller" area what your shoe size is and weather it is a men's or women's.

Please keep in mind that hand crafted boots such as these take time to make and we are often back ordered. I will send you an email indicating the estimated time of shipment.

CUSTOM OPTIONS

Leather ~ Various leather colors to choose from.

Vegan Options ~ We can replace the leather trim with heavy duty wool felt and leather laces with non leather alternatives.

Rubber Soling ~ We offer regular petroleum based rubber soling and also natural tree gum rubber.

Boot Color ~ Natural brown, grey and black are available. For an additional fee we can dye the boots a color of your choosing.

*Boot and leather colors are subject to availability. Certain custom features may increase the wait time on orders. Please convo me with your ideas and we can work together to create the perfect boot for you.

SHIPPING

We ship first class US mail, in order to keep the price down. If you would like your item shipped in a different manner, please let me know. We can ship internationally to any country, though additional shipping charges will apply.

GUARANTEE

Sizing and buying shoes unseen can be tricky. We want you to be comfortable and happy in your boots so if they do not fit, you can send them back to us and we will make another pair in a size that fits. We have yet to encounter this, but it could happen and if it does, we will take care of it.

WAIT TIMES ~ Custom made boots take time to make and we are often back ordered quite a bit. Please allow from one to two months for creation of item. If you need your boots by a certain date make sure to make a note of that to me and we will do everything we can to make that happen for you.

Added on Nov 17, 2009