Finnish Sámi People Boots: "Nutukas"

These winter boots, called "nutukas," are made by the Sámi People of Finland. The Sámi herd reindeer and use every part of the animal.

These boots are made from the soft hide of a reindeer's leg or head. The fur is left on and sewn so that the fur is on the outside of the boot. On the bottom of the boot, two pieces of hide are sewn on with the fur going in opposite directions to give better traction in the snow.

The Sámi people are the indigenous people who live in the Arctic area of Sápmi, which today includes parts of far northern Sweden, Norway, Finland, the Kola Peninsula of Russia, and the border area between south and middle Sweden and Norway. Sámi who lived near the coasts made their living by fishing. Inland, they farmed, raised cattle, trapped fur animals and fished. The smaller minority of the Mountain Sámi continued to hunt wild reindeer. Around 1500, they started to tame these animals into herding groups, becoming the well-known reindeer nomads.

Gákti are the traditional clothing worn by the Sámi people. The gákti is worn both in ceremonial contexts and while working, particularly when herding reindeer. Traditionally, the gákti was made from reindeer leather and sinews, but nowadays, it is more common to use wool, cotton, or silk. Traditional gákti are most commonly in variations of red, blue, green, white, medium-brown tanned leather, or reindeer fur. In winter, there is the addition of a reindeer fur coat and leggings, and sometimes a poncho and rope/lasso.

Women's gákti typically consist of a dress, a fringed shawl that is fastened with silver brooches, and boots/shoes made of reindeer fur or leather, lined with felt.

Boots can have pointed or curled toes and often have band-woven ankle wraps.


Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sami_people
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nutukas