'Imran Chappal' goes global by French designer
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*ISLAMABAD - Famed for luxury red-soled stilettos,French shoe designer Christian Louboutin has taken inspiration for a new sandal from Pakistan’s tribal frontier, sparking claims of cultural appropriation along with grins from grizzled Pakistani cobblers.*
A post on Louboutin’s Instagram last month announcing the release of the shoe sparked a social media frenzy in Pakistan, with fans praising the latest homage to the country’s rich artisan traditions
The “Imran” — a flamboyant sandal complete with metal studs along with splashes of orange and silver — is inspired by the country’s traditional Peshawari chappal, according to the fashion house.
The chappal has long been a staple for ethnic Pashtuns — from ordinary labourers to the country’s political elite — in Pakistan’s northwest and is termed ‘Peshawari Chappal’.
