*********************************
                 ************************
Pakistan has rich diverse culture. Khussa is crafted hand made footwear and part of Pakistani culture.

Khussa trend hardly ever goes out. It’s one of those traditional things which are unaffected by fashion and trends.Pakistan has always been more popular in providing khussa with high quality leather.
Khussa’s are made of leather. They are very comfortable and easy to wear footwear.They are long-lasting foot wear. The key quality of Khussa is that it has multiple varieties. It can be wore in daily life and even in parties and weddings. These footwear are so light weighted and flexible. 

Khussas are made by artisans mostly using vegetable-tanned leather. The uppers are made of one piece of leather or textile embroidered and embellished with brass nails, cowry shells, mirrors, bells and ceramic beads. Even the bonding from the upper to the sole is done by cotton thread that is not only eco-friendly but also enmeshes the leather fibers with great strength. Some product range also uses bright and ornate threads. It vary in designs and colours. It encapsules cultural diversity, local ethos and ethnicity.
khussa is made entirely by hand from the curing of the leather to the cutting and sewing together of the insole, outsole, sole and vamp. The embroidery can be very intricate or the decorative element may be as simple as raised leather lines on the upper sole. Khussas traditionally have no heel. They are completely flat and tend to be very comfortable.

Khussa sewn by artican have been highly valued because of the fine quality of stitching, and so Pakistan has always been ahead in offering better quality for Khussa.Stitching is the main thing to look for when you are trying to know about the workmanship of khussa. Pakistanis are skilled in stitching khussa and this is a skill which has been handed down to generations.


Khussa’s are available in many different designs. Some cutting work inhence its beauty. Different pearls are use in it.Khussa’s are very flexible and smooth. Some khussa’s are open from the top and some khussa’s are open from the back side.

Some khussa’s are embroided very neatly. Applique in form of differently designed figures are cut out of leather and sewn on the vamp manually. The design dictate the nature, colour and shape of the appliqué. It could range from an intricate appliqué which itself could incorporate other design features like embroidery, punches, weaves, etc., to a simple cut out shape from any material like leather, textile, synthetic, etc.



Multan is strongly associated with Khussa trend in Pakistan. It is a city where khussa trend was initiated, which offers an un-matched beauty and elegancy in beautiful colors and designs of Khussa.It is said that the khussas of Multan are the most beautiful and best made. Multani khussas have fine tilla work (gold thread embroidery), sequins (sitara) and beads (moti) work. Multani Phool wala and khussa slippers (which have no backs) are made specifically for women are also very famous. 
khussas are made in different parts of Pakistan as well and they have different varities.. Waziraabadi khussa which has an upper part that is created skillfully out of cut-work. Delicate patterns are made that create a filigree effect. Shurkrpuri khussa which is embroidered with white tilla (metallic thread) on red, black and skin-colored leather. .these slippers were not very efficient in protecting the foot from both dirt and cold weather.

Khussa’s are very famous on wedding occasions. It can be selected according to the dress colours. Especially on mehndi and barat functions the females and males prefer khussa’s to wear.


Mostly groom’s likes to wear sherwani on barat function. And the khussa’s are completely match with sherwani.And it is mostly made of stones and beeds. Mostly for wedding the grooms likes tillaas khussa.



Khussa trend in Pakistan can even offer an aristocratic look for men if you choose for the gold embroidered, curvy khussa which is familiar and dear to every Pakistani. Even now in this century, we see grooms choosing to wear this traditional khussa on their wedding day, with the traditional “Sherwani”.

khussa arrived in the palaces of the Mughal Empire much later and it was then that its history started to be recorded. The rural word khussa was replaced by the more eloquent Saleem Shahi. Saleem was also the nickname of the Mughal Emperor Jehangir (17th century AD).There are some visible differences between these two varieties of shoe. 
The Saleem Shahi has a generally finer shape and is usually decorated with very intricate hand-embroidered patterns in gold (or multi-coloured) thread , fit for the royal court. The most interesting part of the shoe is its curly tip. The left and right are not cut in different shapes as is the case with modern shoes,  they can be interchanged.The Mughal emperors were not the only rulers in the  who adopted the khussa. There were many other rulers too who used Khussa.
The various types of Khusas, Desi Jutta, Saleem Shahi and Nagra khussa all  are very similar in shape, it is the particular patterns and type of leather that give the shoes their identity.The Saleem Shahi tends to be made of goat skin whilst the Nagra is usually made of camel skin. 

The type of leather determines the weight, texture and durability of the shoe. Saleem Shahi is also known as TalaKangi, Chakwali, Multani, Bahawalpuri, Qasoori, Sharakpuri,Waziraabadi, Multani Phool wala, Khussa slipper and so on. These names usually depict the place of manufacture.




Khussa shoes are made of natural material they tend to adopt to the shape of the foot quite easily. Therefore the sizes are not standardised. Most khussas are very popular in rural villages where cobblers make the shoes on order for the peasants and farmers. People use it for comfort and durability 


             *******************************************