The cheapest option in the home footwear category is felt: a children’s pair costs 275 UAH, and a teenager’s pair 290. According to market logic, the cheapest items should also wear out the quickest. With felt, however, the opposite is true.
Felt is a dense, non-woven material: it has no threads that can be pulled out, and no loops that can come undone. That is precisely why felt slippers retain their shape even when velour ones have already started to shrink on the foot. The wool base absorbs up to 33% of moisture from its own weight and remains dry to the touch, so your feet do not get sweaty.
The paradox is easily explained: cheap felt isn’t cheap because it’s poor quality, but because it’s a basic material without any finishing. When you look at it Ukrainian-made felt slippers All in all, it is clear that the price is driven by the embroidery and appliqué, rather than by the thickness of the felt itself.
Felt is neither a fabric nor a knitted fabric, and that’s the whole point
Top seller in the women’s range: grey felt with embroidery, 420 UAH.
Fabric is woven, knitwear is knitted, and felt is fulled: the wool fibres become entangled with one another and bond together to form a solid sheet. This is the source of all its properties: there is no thread that can be pulled out to create a snag, nor is there a loop that unravels after catching on a threshold.
The second property is less obvious. The material wicks excess moisture away from the foot, so it does not provide a breeding ground for bacteria as quickly as synthetic materials do. A pair of felt shoes lasts longer not because they are more durable, but because they remain hygienic for longer.
How does Italian felt differ from ordinary felt?
It has a denser and more even texture. The practical benefit is clear: embroidery on Italian felt lies more neatly and does not pucker. The price difference between ordinary felt and Italian felt is approximately 60 UAH.
Why do felt slippers not lose their shape?
This is because the material has no direction in which it can stretch. A pair of velour or knitted shoes will mould to the shape of the foot over the winter and no longer stay on, whilst a felt pair remains the same. For closed-toe styles, this is crucial: the heel counter lasts the whole season.
Six felt models: women’s, men’s and children’s
There are currently 41 styles of women’s felt boots in stock, in sizes 36–40. The six items listed below cover all age groups and both ends of the price range.
| Model. | Material | Dimensions | Price |
| Women’s closed-toe slippers made of grey felt with embroidery | felt | 36–40 | 420 UAH |
| Women’s burgundy felt slippers with a flower | felt, embroidery | 36–40 | 300 UAH |
| Women’s slippers made from Italian felt | Italian felt | 36–40 | 360–385 UAH |
| Men's closed-toe slippers made from Italian felt with embroidery | Italian felt | 41–45 | from 290 UAH |
| Felt slippers for teenagers | felt | 36–41 | 290–310 UAH |
| Children’s felt slippers | felt | 23–35 | 275 UAH |
Burgundy felt with an embroidered flower, 300 UAH: the same fabric, different trim.
What is the overpayment for, ranging from 275 to 715 UAH?
All women’s felt hats cost between 300 and 715 UAH, and this price range seems daunting until you break it down. A model made from Italian felt costs 360–385 UAH, one with embroidery costs 420 UAH, one with appliqué costs 455 UAH, whilst a premium embroidered item can cost up to 715 UAH.
The key point here is that the same felt is used across the entire range. A pair costing 715 UAH is no warmer than one costing 385 UAH: the extra cost goes towards hand-finishing, more intricate embroidery and the edging. This is a reasonable premium if the pair is being bought as a gift. But there’s no point in buying a more expensive model just for the sake of warmth.
The cheapest items – children’s at 275 UAH and teenagers’ at 290–310 UAH – are made from the same raw materials. For a teenager who wears everything out in six months, this is the most sensible price, not a compromise.
Men’s felt: a rare instance where it is cheaper than women’s
Grey Italian felt, men’s closed-toe style: prices start from 290 UAH.
Usually, men’s items cost the same or more, as they require more material. With felt, however, it’s different: the men’s range starts at 290 UAH, which is cheaper than the starting price for women’s items. The reason lies not in the quality, but in the decoration: men’s models have almost no appliqués, and the embroidery on them is understated, so the part of the price that covers the decoration in the women’s range is simply absent here.
When choosing from within the range, it comes down to two things: an open or closed design, and standard felt or Italian felt. Closed designs are warmer and more suitable for a detached house, whilst open designs are more comfortable in a warm flat. It’s also worth taking a look at the men’s styles made from Italian felt: they’re of particular interest to those who want their shoes to retain their appearance for a couple of years.
Care that prevents the pair from shrinking during the first month
The most common reason for a pair of felted shoes going wrong is always the same: the washing machine. Hot water and the spin cycle compress the wool even further, causing the shoes to shrink by two sizes, after which they will never return to their original shape. This is not a fault in the material, but simply its nature.
Proper care is simple to the point of being basic. Use a dry brush when dust or hair has accumulated on the surface. Clean the affected area with a damp cloth if there is a stain. Leave to dry at room temperature, away from the radiator.
One last thing to bear in mind is the season. Felt shoes are bought from September to March, with sales peaking in November and December. The choice is at its widest in autumn: in September, the official BELSTA representative has both rare sizes and a full range of styles in their catalogue, whilst in winter only the remaining items in the range are available.
Frequently asked questions about felt
Which slippers are warmer – felt or sheepskin?
Sheepskin is warmer, but felt retains its shape better and is cheaper. Felt is sufficient for a flat, whilst sheepskin makes more sense for a cold floor in a house.
Can felt slippers be washed in the washing machine?
No, they’ll shrink by two sizes. Clean them with a dry brush and remove stains with a damp cloth.
Why is a men’s pair cheaper than a women’s pair?
It’s down to the decoration. Men’s designs feature almost no appliqués or intricate embroidery, and the felt itself is the same.
Is Italian felt worth the extra cost?
The difference is about 60 UAH. The embroidery doesn’t fray on thicker felt, so this is justified for embroidered designs.
How many seasons does a pair of felt shoes last?
Around three, provided they are dry-cleaned. Synthetic fabrics costing 150–200 UAH won’t even last until the end of the first season if worn every day.
If you’re buying felt for the first time, start with a closed-toe pair in the mid-price range and make sure you remember the main care rule straight away: dry brush, no washing machine. A pair that has never been washed in hot water will easily last three seasons.
Based on information provided by the team at the KROKK online shop, the official representative of BELSTA in Ukraine.
