MINGORA:As Eidul Fitr getting closer, the sale of traditional Swati Chappal is getting momentum in Mingora, the main financial hub of Swat.

According to shopkeepers, the traditional footwear of Swat attracts people of all ages and its demand for Eidul Fitr has increased manifold.

“Swati Chappal, especially made of simple leather, has big demand these days as people from all walks of life prefer to buy it,” said Shah Dauran, a shopkeeper in Mingora.

Shopkeeper says he sells 200 to 250 pairs daily in Eid season

He said that he sold 200 to 250 pairs of the footwear daily in the Eid season while its sale in normal days remained 20 to 30 pairs daily.

The shopkeepers said that there were different varieties, colours and styles of Swati Chappal. “Young people prefer to buy Chappal of latest designs and styles while mature people prefer to buy simple but graceful footwear,” said Akhtar Ali, another shopkeeper in Mingora.

Fazl Rabi, who has been making traditional Swati Chappal for the last 30 years, said that some people bought readymade footwear while majority of the customers preferred to prepare it on order.

“I have customers in all parts of the country as well as abroad. I receive orders from my customers for whom I make special Chappal. At first this Chappal was used by Pakhtuns but now other people also wear it,” he said.

According to shopkeepers, Swati Chappal has become popular among educated people recently as they used it as a traditional pride.

“Initially I used to buy shoes made in factories but with passing of time I developed liking for the traditional Chappal as now majority of educated people wear it. The traditional footwear gives us a sense of ownership with our cultural heritage,” said Waqas Ali, a university student.

Swati Chappal is cheaper than the branded and factory-made shoes therefore people from poor communities buy it for Eid and other such occasions.

“I cannot afford to buy branded shoes in the fashionable stores so I buy Swati Chappal every year for Eidul Fitr,” said Mian Sher, a resident of Ser Talegram village.

Although there are more than 50 shops of the traditional Swati Chappal yet its main hub is considered Manglawar village where customers from every part of the country come to buy it throughout the year. However the influx of customers increases before Eidul Fitr.

Published in Dawn, June 16th, 2018