It truly looks like a more efficient way to hand sew with a thimble than the kind we typically use here in the U.S. I have seen ones similar to ours (closed end, fits on the end of a finger) without the end, but not one that slides up your finger. Also, where I live we have a bit of a "cultural" thimble, made from seal hide. They look like a little "shoe" and are open on one side (the fingernail side) and have a little band that hold them on. I have yet to try one, I'm just too used to the one I grew up using. I even think I have one, I just don't know where it is!
M