Have you seen people wearing a white vest, a knee-length shorts and a pair of wooden clogs walk on the street? For the older generation, it is the most living picture when they recall their earlier days.

However, wooden clogs seem to have been left behind as time goes by. In Ipoh today, only an old couple in a small shops is still making wooden clogs.

We can hear the knocking noises echo in the hallway but when it can no longer be heard one day, perhaps it means that the industry is dead in Ipoh.

Clogs maker Yao Cai Yu, 60, and her husband have taken over the family business from her parents-in-law since she got married 40 years ago.

She told Sin Chew Daily that it was said that the business have been started since her parents-in-law came to Ipoh from China.

The shop has neither a sign nor a name. However, as it is the only clog shop here, it is easy to identify.

Yao said that when her father-in-law was in charge of the shop, the clog soles were hand-made in which the shape was cut out by using an axe before its surface was planed smooth.

She continued that during the time when she took over the business, clog soles have already been made by machines. So, they could just buy a large number of clog soles from the manufacturer and fix the skin on the clogs with nails. The colourful plastic skins were as well brought from wholesalers.

It required only simple materials, including clog soles, a plastic skin, a belt, nails, hammer and pliers, to make a pair of wooden clogs.

Yao proficiently fixed the belt on the plastic skin with nails on both of its sides. It seemed to be a very simple work but Yao has suffered back pain over all these years as she kept maintaining the humpbacked posture when doing her work.

Yao sighed that all her customers today are middle-aged or older.

Nowadays, people wear anti-skid clogs mainly in kitchen or bathroom. And clogs found in the market are available in adult and children’s sizes.

Clogs decay after a long time being used in wet areas, even bacteria and fungi may grow on it. Thus, Yao suggested that customers choose clogs that have painted red, like red clogs used in Chinese weddings. She also painted patterns on red clogs to attract customers.

Yao sighed that the family business could last only for two generations as none of her four children are willing to take over the business.

She said that she does not blame her children as the traditional craft has been left behind and it will one day become part of the history; her children should take a more promising path. (Translated by SOONG PHUI JEE/Sin Chew Daily)