Leatherworkers have been traditionally held in contempt since they would with dead animals which are seen as dirty and polluting During the first world war however there was a huge demand for shoes for the armies caste prejudice against leather work meant that only the traditional leather workers and shoemakers were ready to supply army shoes so they could ask for high prices and gain impressive profits.                                  Madigas maing shoes nineteth century andhra pradesh. Madigas were an important untouchable caste of present day andhra pradesh they were experts at cleaning hides tannining them for use and sewing sandalso.