Traditional Elegance Takes Center Stage With Khusa Showcases

News Desk

Islamabad:The ongoing 10-day Lok Mela is an awesome interpretation of cultures that also gives entertainment and employment opportunities to many people, said an artistic work-related seller who belongs to Punjab.

Every province has set up its own aesthetically designed cultural pavilion to depict its indigenous folk heritage, but I love to prefer buying traditional khusa footwear in the Mela which has a unique design and is a hand-made durable product, said a visitor while purchasing it.

The folk festival showcases dozens of stalls where Sindh, Balochistan, Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa-related traditional dresses, especially colourful hand-made wool shawls and ‘khusa’ footwear, are selling like hot cakes and gripping the attention of local and foreign customers.

Sindhi and Gilgilt-Beltistan embroidery, Ajrak, block printing, and traditional shawls are on display at the Lok Mela, said a foreign visitor. These embroidered shawls are available in comfortable stuff and are attracting mostly visitors.

‘Mela is providing an economic opportunity for poor and underprivileged craftspeople. I am buying a Pashto-related traditional dress for my girls which has very attractive and colourful work, said another female customer.

A stall holder, while displaying typical and traditional Punjabi khusa, commented that this product is generally made by artisans, and it is mostly made of vegetable-tanned leather while the uppers are made of fabric embroidered with shells, mirrors, gems and stones.

Some khusa shoes are only embroidered with fine thread, while others are embroidered with zari thread, he said, adding that we are satisfied with the sale of this product in Lok Mela.

No doubt women’s khusa shoes are available in various colours and designs, said a group of females in Mela, adding that the soft leather crafting makes them comfortable to wear and grips female attention.

Ladies Khusa shoes have intricate embroidery works made with beads and sequins, giving us an opportunity to buy this product at reasonable rates, said an elderly woman.

The prices of these footwear are reasonable, and the designs are fashionable, which can well show the characteristics of Pakistani Khusa which is the main attraction for female customers, he added.