Cobblers have used metals for many centuries in the process of making, protecting and mending footwear. At one end of the spectrum, the soles of Roman empresses' shoes were made of poured gold, while in India, the Hindu belief forbidding the use of cowhide sandals has led to wooden toe knob sandals sometimes being sheathed in intricately worked silver. More recently, designers have used precious metals to construct high fashion footwear. Italian designer Salvatore Ferragamo's latest collection, for example, includes shoes adorned with gold plated chains.
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