IPOH: Wooden clogs, or terompah, were common items in many households in the 1970s. But they're hardly seen anymore now.
Clogmaker Yeow Chai Nyok, 71, hopes that interest in wooden clogs will be revived.
Yeow, who has been making and selling clogs for more than 50 years, said the traditional footwear was getting less popular with locals and tourists, with sales dropping every year.
"The Chinese clogs are made by hand, but it is a dying art as they have to compete with modern footwear.
"Besides that, people think that clogs are old-fashioned and noisy."
Yeow said she made between 10 and 15 pairs of clogs daily.
She said it took some time to make a pair as she made it by hand every step of the way, from woodcutting and nailing to painting.
"Once every three months, a lorry will come to pick up a number of orders to be delivered to Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Johor," she said at her stall at the Ipoh Wholesale Market here.
She said the demand for clogs dropped drastically during the Movement Control Order 2.0.
"I used to sell between 20 and 30 pairs of clogs per month, but I've sold only three to six clogs a month now."
A pair of clogs cost between RM9 and RM19.50, depending on their colour and design.
She said clogs could be worn by men and women, but were mostly preferred by the latter, who needed to work on wet surfaces, particularly when washing clothes, working in kitchens or going to bathrooms.
"Clogs with straight sides are meant for men, while clogs with sides that curve inwards are for women. The clogs are made from wood and comfortable to wear despite the hard wood surface."
The mother of four, who lives in Taman Cempaka here, said the clogs were unique as each could be worn on either foot.
If you are a Chinese woman about to get married, you should visit Yeow's stall.
"I also make red-painted clogs, which are used as part of the dowry for Chinese brides."