Black cotton bathing shoes with white laces

Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.

A pair of black cotton bathing shoes with white laces. Each shoe is made from two panels of cotton twill that are seamed together at the toe box and the center back. White cotton plain weave tape, measuring about .25" wide, trims the center front opening and ankle and white twill tape laces are strung through fourteen metal grommets (seven on each side) at the center front. The outer sole is made from undyed canvas, which is adhered to an interior stiffener, possibly leather. The number [6] is handwritten on the outer sole with ink. There is no tongue on either shoe and the insides are unlined. The inner sole is made from one thin panel of undyed cotton plain weave fabric. There is no label.

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