Ah Lan Beaded Shoes, Malacca

Ah Lan Beaded Shoes Signboard

Ah Lan Beaded Shoes is located at 84 Heeren Street. Do not be misled by the name as Ah Lan also has kebayas and sarongs if you are looking to come up with a matching set for your peranakan attire.

Ah Lan Nyonya Beaded Shoes

Peranakan Beaded Slippers

At Ah Lan's, you can have your peranakan beaded slippers specially made if you are not able to find the right size with your desired pattern. Just give them about three to four hours to get the specially made pair ready if they have the pattern.

Beaded patterns come in various colours and designs

A different design for the beaded slippers

Slippers from Vietnam

Kebayas (peranakan ladies tops)

Trying on the sarong

Kebaya top and sarong on a mannequin

Brooches for the kebaya top

Cheong sam - traditional Chinese wear

Ah Lan also stocks cheong sams, but in limited quantities.

Another cheong sam

Holiday Travel Tips:-

Having been to some other shops along Jonker Walk, we find the prices for the nyonya beaded shoes at Ah Lan's to be cheapest so far.

Ah Lan also sells bound feet shoes if you are looking for a unique souvenir.

Shoes for bound feet

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Peranakan Beaded Slippers and Bound Feet Shoes

Interesting shop in Malacca - Wah Aik Shoemaker, a dying breed.

Located at 56 Jalan Tokong, just behind the famous Jonker Street in Malacca, Wah Aik Shoemaker is now being run by the third generation of shoemakers from the Yeo family.

Wah Aik Shoemaker

Started in 1918, Wah Aik Shoemaker continues to this day to supply bound feet shoes to the last handful of women alive who were brought up in the era of 'small feet being more attractive to men' and who went through years of torture just to secure a good future. Their main source of revenue comes from tourists who find the bound feet shoes unique and who yearn to take home a little history.

Shoes for bound feet - These tiny shoes, at a mere 4 inches long, could easily sit more than comfortably on the palms of your hands. Made with various colours of embroidered silk, they look beautiful but never would I wish anyone to go through the years of pain just to fit into these shoes

At RM95 (USD30.60) for a pair of bound feet shoes, they do not come cheap though you do get a little showcase unit for the shoes

On display is a book on the history of shoes for bound feet

Not only does Wah Aik Shoemaker specialize in bound feet shoes, they also are a dying breed of shoemakers who specialize in the kasut manek, also known as nyonya beaded shoes or its literal translation 'shoe beads'

An old pair of Peranakan beaded slippers

The beaded slippers are individually beaded by hand onto slipper tops and had colourful designs of plants and animals These slippers are worn by Peranakan women as part of their traditional costume

Peranakan beaded slippers for sale

Shoemaker's tools

Almost completed pair of nyonya slippers

Various designs available

Display of the nonya slippers from their ancestors

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