Leather masters and 'dressing-gown Tartars'
Editorial contextAmong the street cries of St Petersburg Kohl heard 'Kazan boots' and 'Bukhara dressing-gowns'. He credits Mongols and Tatars with founding almost every branch of Russian leatherwork, from Moscow's embroidered caps and belts to Kazan's morocco boots, and says Tatar sellers of silk robes were nicknamed 'dressing-gown Tartars'.
The Mongolians and Tartars are distinguished for their skill in the preparation of leather, and almost every branch of manufacture connected with this article in Russia has had its origin from them … Dressing-gowns are almost the only things that do not come through Russian hands, but from those of the Tartar makers … where they are often called “dressing-gown Tartars.”
About Tatars (from Kazan and Central Asia) trading in the capital
Keep in mind
The claim that Russian leatherwork originated with the Tatars is Kohl's generalisation.