Home / Bazaar / Khyber Pakhtunkhwa / Peshawari chappal
To wear
Leather sandals with crossed straps
The sandal of the frontier, built to last a decade.
$40–120
Find handmade Peshawari chappals on Etsy ↗If you buy through this link we may earn a small commission. It never changes your price.
The story
Two crossed straps, a toe loop and a thick stitched sole: the Peshawari chappal is the classic men’s sandal of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and is worn across Pakistan.
In 2014 a London fashion house sold a near copy for about £300, and Pakistanis noticed.
In pictures
Photos coming soon. Each frame below says what it will show.
History
The chappal has been worn around the Khyber for generations. Peshawar’s cobblers made it famous, and some workshops have customers who return for decades.
How it’s made
Leather is hand-cut for straps and soles.
Layers are stacked and stitched.
Straps and toe loop are stitched into the sole.
Edges are trimmed, polished and studded.
Kinds
Plain leather with two straps.
With metal studs on the straps.
A modern closed-toe take with straps.
In Pakistan
Worn with shalwar kameez across Pakistan, from office days to Eid prayers.
Buy it well
| Genuine | Likely a copy |
|---|---|
| Stitched sole edge | Glued sole only |
| Real leather straps | Synthetic straps |
Where to buy
We may earn a small commission. Your price is the same.
Find handmade Peshawari chappals on Etsy ↗Typical price: $40–120, before shipping. Read the “Buy it well” checks above before you order, and ask the seller for photos of the exact piece.
Questions
Many cobblers make wider fittings. Ask.
Yes. Good pairs are resoled rather than replaced.
Keep exploring
Rolled wool cap
A soft wool cap with a rolled brim, made for mountain winters.
Green tea with cardamom
Green tea with cardamom, poured in Peshawar’s Storytellers’ Bazaar.
Glass bangles, sold by the dozen
Glass rings in every colour, from the city that makes them for all of Pakistan.
Embroidered mirror-work cap
A round cap covered in mirrors, with an arch cut out at the front.
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