Opincile represent the traditional shoes that complete the local folk costume and can be worn both by women and men. Traditionally, these shoes were made from bovine leather processed with bitter salt and oak bark.
The technique of making opinci involves drawing and cutting the leather, shaping it on a wooden mold, folding the edges, and piercing the leather to attach the leather laces (nojită) that tie the opinci to the foot. The process is simple, but requires precision to adapt to the shape of the foot and provide strength.
DETAILS
Detail of the material (textures and tones). Source: Manuel Persa.
Detail of the materials prior to the artisan work. Source: Manuel Persa
Inspiration
Nature as a complete source of inspiration, from material to form. Source: Manuel Persa
Nature as a complete source of inspiration, from material to form. Source: Manuel Persa
Location
The selection of this artefact is the responsibility of designer Maria Bruno Néo and is part of her doctoral work ‘A HISTÓRIA INCOMPLETA DO DESIGN PORTUGUÊS: CONTRIBUTOS PARA A INSCRIÇÃO DA DESIGNER HELENA CARDOSO/THE INCOMPLETE HISTORY OF PORTUGUESE DESIGN: CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE INSCRIPTION OF DESIGNER HELENA CARDOSO’ supervised by Professors Susana Barreto and Luís Mendonça, both from the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Porto/Portugal.