Tibor Sallay

Shoemaker

The delicate art behind traditional slipper shoes

Tibor handcrafts shoes with traditional Hungarian folk patterns
His designs are made to order, usually by brides
He has made shoes his entire life

Hailing from the town of Szeged in southern Hungary, Tibor Sallay has been making footwear since the 1980s. Initially, his workshop manufactured women’s shoes but in the 1990s production was threatened by cheap imports from China, so Tibor switched his focus to a smaller operation making high-quality men’s shoes. When the opportunity arose to take on the operations of a foundation making traditional dance shoes from his home town, Tibor also picked up the challenge. Today he specialises in making traditional, hand-embroidered women's slippers. Made only from the highest quality cotton, leather and wood, these shoes are worn to accompany the colourful dresses of a bride for her first dance. These unique and tasteful slippers have now become popular with clients all over the world.

Interview

Why did you choose to go into shoemaking?: The cobbler’s trade runs in my family, but I remember first drawing shoes in primary school. It must be in my blood. There are so many styles and materials that it is always exciting, and as no two people’s feet are the same, it is also one of the most complex and challenging crafts there is.
What are your designs inspired by?: We make our slippers to order, so the ultimate decisions on colours and motifs are with the client, but the embroidery usually draws on the traditional flowers of the Szeged region, predominantly the poppy.
How do you decide on which colours to use?: The more exciting colour combinations are often chosen to match a dress for the bridal dance. The bride changes into this less formal folk dress after the wedding dinner and is put through her paces by the guests.
What sets the Szeged slipper apart from other styles?: The slipper is based on the technique brought to the region by the Turks during the Ottoman occupation, but the Szeged version has a slightly raised heel for a more elegant look, as well as incorporating the floral patterns characteristic of Hungarian folk art.

Tibor Sallay is a master artisan: he began his career in 1982 and he started teaching in 2002