Help Center
The Answers You Need
Who makes these shoes?
These are made by Katarina and Juraj. By hand. NO machinery or factory is involved in the process.
How are these shoes and leather items made?
Juraj is the master craftsman and designer. He creates designs and patterns based on our measurements and choice of period. He oversees the whole process from the beginning till the end. Juraj also hand-stitches the various upper - sole constructions and finishes the shoes with little details, polishing, oiling and of course all of the photos you see are his work too. He is very social offline as well as online - feel free to message him as he looks after our social media platforms.
Katarina takes the designs and cut the patterns out of leather. She is also "clicker" - completes uppers by hand and uses brushes and dyes with ease and steady hand.
Katarina is also our Finance department, Marketing wizard - web master and Giftshop manager. As a mum of two, she designed and tested all DIY and Craft kits with real live kiddies :)
Where are these leather items made?
They are all made in our atelier - either in UK or Slovakia.
Visit our expo and workshop in person to see yourself :)
Are they based on real findings?
Yes, all of the NP Historical shoes are based on archaeological findings held in museums worldwide.
How authentic are the shoes?
We aim for the most authentic shoe reproduction, which is also offered to the museum as part of the life hands on experience.
1. designs and patterns - based on archaeological findings
2. material - we use naturally treated leather, the closest we can get to the original medieval hides.
Linen thread waxed with bees wax
toggles, leather laces and brass / metal buckles - all based on existing findings
No synthetics or modern material is used in the product or during the process
3. production - even the tools we use to make the shoes are replicas or medieval tools or manual modern leather working hand tools. No machinery or factory is used making these leather goods.
4. decoration - hand dyed leather with oil based dye, embroidery, scraping, stamping, cut out, lacing, fabric cover - all authentic decoration methods
What leather do you use?
We use untreated natural veg tanned leather for all our projects.
Why the leather darken over time?
The patina that will develop naturally as you use it creates character. The leather will absorb oils from your hands and be somewhat shaped by the climate you live in – hot and dry, cold and rainy, and mild temperatures will have different effects on your patina.
Water & Salt! - water darkens the leather and compromise its texture and softness. Combined with salt, and the exposed area may begin to warp.
Sunshine - Don’t be afraid to use it outside, but avoid leaving or storing it in direct sunlight. If your leather gets wet, let it dry naturally for a day before using it again. Do not dry it in front of a fireplace or heater. This will damage and morph the leather, and can even make it crack.
Does leather conditioner make leather shiny?
Leather conditioner is a moisturizer, and, just like the skin on your body, leather will soak it up. This means that you shouldn't expect your leather to be shiny just because you've applied conditioner. Leather fibers, like skin, will drink in the conditioner, absorbing as much as it can.
What happens if you dont condition leather?
Leather can dry out and crack
On the other hand, leather that has been neglected over time can dry out and crack. It takes an awful lot of abuse for this to take place, but it can happen. Solution: Clean and condition leather twice per year.
What household items can you use to condition leather?
Leather, like your own skin, needs to be protected and moisturized over time. You can create a simple and inexpensive leather conditioner using natural baby soap, vinegar and water. Mix two cups of warm water, a tablespoon of natural baby soap and a splash of vinegar in a bowl.
Is beeswax a good leather conditioner?
Beeswax is one of the oldest conditioning treatments still used today in many ways. It helps finish leather edges, waterproofs leather, forms cord, thread and lubricates lace for easier stitching and lacing.
Can you use olive oil on leather?
Using olive oil on leather can restore colour and repair small scratches.
Can I use coconut oil to condition leather?
Coconut oil will help your leather look smoother for a while, and it will take out the cracks in your leather.
Can shea butter be used on leather?
A natural oil used as a moisturizer for skin, shea butter also works well to soften and maintain moisture in leather products. It contains enough water to hydrate the leather and then seal moisture in, keeping it soft and supple and resistant to water and dirt.
What is the difference between turnshoes and cemented?
Turnshoes is a traditional authentic medieval construction where upper and sole is stitched inside out by hand and then turned. Perfect for walking on grass and soft surfaces. Careful! They might be a bit slippery - nowadays such soles are perfect for dancing. To prolong their life, we recommend wearing wooden pattens on a paved / concrete surface or apply extra sole if used in combat (incl. hobnails or knots)
Cemented shoes - is a cheaper modern alternative, where upper and sole is glued. Beside the cost benefit, cemented soles are easier to repair. Downsides include - unauthenticity and sturdiness - stiffness of the glued leather soles.
What is edge binding?
Edge binding is a reinforcement of edges around shoe opening and flaps. These parts of the shoes get worn out fast.
Another benefit of edge binding is the decorative purpose, as they can be made in contrast colour to the shoe.
Edge binding was used since Early Medieval period
Is there a difference between Female and Male medieval shoe?
There was no difference in design or decoration between female and male shoes until renaissance.
How can I prolong durability of my medieval shoes?
1.Remove dirt using brush
2.Clean with water and wipe
3.Dry before storage
4.Do not dry over open fire – keep off excessive heat!
5.Apply Mink or neatsfoot oil – use cotton cloth
6.Apply Leather conditoner – use cotton cloth
7.Do not store in a plastic bag !
8.Store in a paper / wooden box or fabric bag in a dry area
What colours of shoes can I have?
You can choose your favourite colour from our leather colour swatch