Kirza

Kirza (Russian: кирза) is a type of artificial leather based on the multi-layer textile
fabric, modified by membrane-like substances, produced mainly in theSoviet Union and
Russia. The surface of kirza imitatespig leather.

The material is mainly used in production of military boots, where it is a cheap and
effective replacement for natural leather. It is also used in production of the belts for
machinery and automobiles.

Sometimes, English dictionaries translate кирза as kersey. It is not quite correct, since
kersey is a material of natural origin known from the Middle Ages, though it is kersey
that was used for production of first kirza.[1] According to a popular legend, the name
kirza is an acronym for Kirovskiy zavod (Kirov factory), a factory producing artificial
leather located near Kirov, but the actual name of the factory was Iskozh (an acronym
for "iskusstvennaya kozha" - artificial leather),[2] so the legend is just an example of Kirza boots.
folk etymology.

The basic technology of getting a boots leather alternative was invented in 1904 by Mikhail Pomortsev who used a mixture of egg
yolk, rosin and paraffin wax to impregnate kersey. The new material received several awards in Russia and abroad, but was not used
due to leather boots manufacturers' lobby. Though being much needed in the army after the Russian revolution, it remained relatively
expensive for Soviet Russia until invention of synthetic latex in early 1930's to replace the impregnating mixture used initially. In
1939, Aleksandr Khomutov, the chief engineer of Kozhimit synthetic leather factory in Moscow, and his fellow engineer Ivan
Plotnikov developed the new kirza that was named Kirza SK. Its mass production began during the Winter War of the Soviet Union
against Finland. Initially the material proved to be unfit for winter conditions, and its production was halted. However, very soon the
technology was improved and the mass production was resumed in the autumn and winter of 1941 during the German invasion of
Soviet Union, since the large numbers of footwear were badlyneeded for the Red Army.

For the invention of the new kirza production technology, Aleksandr Khomutov, Ivan Plotnikov and seven other specialist was
awarded the Stalin Prize of the 2nd degree on 10 April 1942.

Since that time kirza has been continuously produced in the Soviet Union and then Russia, as well as in some other countries.
Basically the technology hasn't changed much since 1941. About 85% of kirza produced in Russia goes for military boots (including
the modern combat boots). Most of the modern kirza boots are produced from a combination of 85% kirza and 15% of specially
prepared natural leather (the so-called yuft or Russia leather). About 150 million pairs of kirza footwear has been produced up to this
time.

References
1. Kirza (http://elementy.ru/lib/431941) (in Russian)
2. В. И. Шмакова Комбинат «Искож» // Энциклопедия земли Вятской / отв. В. Ситников. — Киров: «О-Краткое»,
2008. — Т. 10. Книга вторая. Промышленность. Энергетика. Строительство. Транспорт. ISBN 978-5-91402-040-
5 (in Russian)

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