The Pakistani luxury ethical brand Çaplait is redefining the traditional Peshawari chappal shoe. The founder and British-born Pakistani Usman Manzoor gives the right cultural appreciation by creating an authentic collection for women handmade in Pakistan. We absolutely fangirl over these versatile, flat, and super comfy, sandals. Read on to learn more about Çaplait’s Peshawari chappal women’s collection handmade in Pakistan.

Cultural Appreciation Instead Of Cultural Appropriation

Peshawari Chappal have already been the center of global fashion debates. High-fashion brands were accused of not presenting the traditional shoes authentically and received backlash for cultural appropriation. Çaplait instead celebrates the craft of its original Pakistan makers that has been passed down through generations. Each Çaplait pair is respectfully and carefully handcrafted by highly-skilled artisans in Pakistan. The ethical brand Caplait appreciates their talent and provides them only with the highest quality materials. Learn more about th 3 different styles below.

Introducing The 3 Different Styles

Dedicated to bridging traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design, we introduce the 3 different styles from Çaplait’s current core collection: the Hara, the Jisti, and the Swati. Shop them online on caplaitshoes.com or in one of the world’s largest luxury department stores Printemps Haussmann in Paris among others.

The Hara

The Hara model is named after the Hazara region in Pakistan and combines tradition with contemporary minimalism. The simple, plain & unadorned straps match any outfit. All of them go super well with ⅞ vintage jeans. Made with high-quality leather suede, you can choose between three colors: deep navy, rich camel and cool grey.

The Jisti

The Jisti model takes its name from a traditional Pakistani embroidery technique. The skillfully stitched, floral motifs give any outfit a beautiful feminine touch. They look particularly cute with simple dresses. Made with canvas cotton straps and premium leather soles and linings they come in three color combinations. White with navy or pink stitching or black with gold stitching.

The Swati

The Swati model features the most elaborate embroidery which is famous for the detailed geometric patterns originating from a historical tribe. These sandals are a true art piece. We would wear them with a simple, monochrome outfit. Like the other models, this one is also available in three color combinations: black and gold, gold, or grey.

Where does the Peshawari Chappal shoe originate from?

Peshawari Chappal is originally a traditional Pakistani sandal for men. “Peshawar” is the name of the city where the craftsmanship originate from. “Chappal” is the Pakistani word for sandals. Long-lasting and inherently comfortable, Pakistani men have been wearing them both formally and casually together with traditional clothes for generations. The main features of the shoes are the signature tongue, squared toes, flat soles, cross-over straps, and a buckle fastening.

Do you own an authentic pair of Peshawari chappal sandals? Share a photo with us on Instagram by using the hashtag #CulturalAppreciation

Text: Mia Windisch-Graetz, Direction & Copy Edit: Antonia Böhlke, Photos: PR