Peshawari chappal

Peshawari Chappal (Pashto: پېښوري څپلی‎, Urdu: پیشاوری چپل) is a traditional footwear of Pakistan, worn especially by Pashtuns in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region. The shoe takes its name from the city of Peshawar,[1] where it originates from. While chappal is the word for flip-flops, or sandals in Urdu. People in Peshawar -- the locals -- call the Peshawari Chappal Tsaple (Pashto: څپلی ). Peshawari Chappal is worn by men casually or formally, usually with the Shalwar Kameez dress. Because of its comfort, it is used in place of sandal or slipper in Pakistan.

A black Peshawari chappal in Charsadda-style

Peshawari Chappal

Product type	Footwear
Country	Pakistan
Markets	Worldwide

It is a semi-closed footwear which consists of two wide straps where both strips are joined with the sole by crossing each other.[2] The back side also has a strip with a buckle to tie according to the foot size and level of comfort. It is traditionally made with pure leather with its sole often made of truck tyre. It is available in many traditional designs[3] and colors with various variations such as works of golden and silver threads, which give the shoe a more elegant look. Peshawari chappals have become increasingly popular[4] in other parts of Pakistan; even wearing them with jeans has become a fashion trend, especially among urban youth.[5] With the increase access of Peshawari Chappals through ecommerce websites it's now revitalizing with new designs in many cities of Pakistan and Dubai.[6]

Peshawari Chappals are made from soft leather which is sown onto the rubber tyre sole. The materials are cheap, easily available and very hard wearing. Intricate designs are added to the leather upper before the shoe is put into a mould which stretches it to size.[7]

In March 2014, Peshawari Chappal became the center of a global fashion debate when Sir Paul Smith made a similar shoe, which sold for £300.[8] This prompted complaints on social media that this appropriated the culture and craft of its original Pakistan makers. Over a thousand petitioners used Change.org to ask the designer and U.K. government for remedy. As a result, the shoe's description on the Paul Smith website was changed to read that it was "inspired by Peshawari Chappal".[9][10][11][12]

A new version of the chappal known as ‘Kaptaan Chappal' became very popular after it was gifted to Imran Khan by Haji Nooruddin Shinwari, in 2015.[13] In 2019 the creator of the chappal had to pay a Rs. 50,000 fine due to making snakeskin chappals.[14]