In Other Shoes – Faroese Skoleistar

Once again, Tuxen’s shoe collection takes us to the Faroe Islands – this time, however, not for a full pair of shoes. These are a pair of insoles, meant to be worn inside the actual shoes during the coldest months of winter:

“Skoleistar from the Faroe Islands. Knitted for me by Mrs. Anna S. Johannesen, Heldorsvik, in Thorshavn on November 13th 1957. Upon completion, they have been washed in warm soda (just the right temperature for keeping hands submerged in it) so as to quilt the material into a ticker texture. The shoes are often used inside leather shoes for an extra layer. Can be plain or patterned.” – S.L. Tuxen

If only my shoes were big enough to hold a pair of these inside them!

To see other examples of Faroese footwear, check out our recent posts on rotiskogvar and cow skin shoes.

// Ciara Coogan