Khussa is perhaps the most traditional type of footwear available on the Indian subcontinent. Historians believe that these shoes date back to the Harappa civilization that occupied the area more than 5,000 years ago.

 

But where are they from? And what makes them so desirable? Let’s find out.

 

Chakwal is famous for khussa shoes

 

Khussa - along with Zari Khairi - are traditionally made in Chakwal, a relatively small city approximately 90 km southwest of Islamabad. Artisans make khussa shoes by hand from soft, pure leather, using techniques that go back thousands of years. The result are shoes that people can wear on either foot.

 

Khussa makes it instantly apparent that a person is from the Chakwal region. All over Pakistan (and the rest of the subcontinent), people recognise Khussa shoes as being unique to the region. In fact, Khussa are so famous that they have even formed a critical part of international diplomacy efforts. When Pakistani politician Raja Mohammed Ali travelled from Chakwal to meet Indian prime minister Manmahan Singh in 2008, he took a pair of Khussa shoes as a gift. Even today, people wear these shoes at special occasions like weddings.

 

Interestingly, much of the embroidery for the shoes is done outside of Chakwal in the tradotional villages of Karsal and Jharma. These villages are home to artisans who are descendants of great masters who passed their trades down through the generations. Embroidered shoes are for both men and women. The price typically ranges from Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000, with Zari Khairi being around double that.

 

Where can you buy Khussa?

 

We’re now living in a golden era of Khussa shoes where ordinary Pakistanis living in Western countries, such as the US, can buy them from specialist stores. Most people wear Khussa (and Zari Khairi) on special occasions. The older generation still prefers them, and they hold an important place in the culture.

 

Picking up a pair of Khussa couldn’t be easier. You can buy Khussa shoes at the Studio By TCS website, https://www.studiobytcs.com/. We offer a large collection of handicraft shoes, suitable for a variety of outfits. Options include:

 

• Pink leather Khussa


• Orange leather Khussa


• Peachy pink Khussa


• Jade green Khussa


• Purple velvet Khussa


• Maroon velvet Khussa


• Green gulab Khussa


• And many others

 

Shoes are made to the highest quality, with soles and uppers connected using advanced techniques. Shoes are perfect for formal events and even casual social gatherings.

 

Ordering shoes is easy. Select the shoes that suit your purpose and then choose the appropriate size. Then add your choice to the cart and check out. Deliveries are typically made within four weeks.

 

Wrapping up

 

In summary, Chakwal is a city famous for Khussa shoes. However, it is only one of a number of sites that produce these garments in the local region, including several villages.

 

Today, Pakistan exports Khussas to various Werstern markets, including Britain, France and Spain. In the process, the industry has grown and now Pakistani diasporas can access this traditional attire virtually anywhere in the world.