Art collector Azat Akimbek presents traditional Kazakh high-heeled wooden footwear

Collector Azat Akimbek has presented a unique example of Kazakhstan’s traditional material culture. The specially crafted high-platform wooden overshoes were traditionally worn over soft leather boots, serving a function comparable to that of modern overshoes.

Through his social media platforms, Azat Akimbek showcased an antique pair of kaushi - the traditional name for these distinctive wooden high-platform overshoes and explained their historical purpose.

“During periods of heavy rainfall, when roads became difficult to pass along, craftsmen developed this type of high-platform footwear. The platform measured at least 10 centimetres in height. People first put on soft leather boots—ichigi or mäsi—and then wore these wooden overshoes over them. This enabled even an elderly respected community member (aksakal) to travel comfortably to a neighbouring aul. There was also a women’s version, featuring a more refined design and a lower platform. Tool marks remain visible, demonstrating that each pair was hand-carved from a single piece of wood,” Azat Akimbek explained.

He further noted that the word galoshes may have originated from the name of this traditional wooden footwear, kaushi.