Christian LouboutinĀ is doing his rendition of the Peshawari chappals and he’s calling it ‘Imran sandals.’
This isn’t the first time a Western designer took the Peshawari chappal and called it something else. Designer Paul Smith called hisĀ rendition of the formal footwear ‘Robert’ (can it get whiter than that?).
We don’t know if Christian Louboutin named his rendition of the Peshawari chappal ‘Imran sandals’ after the Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan (the pioneer of wearing Peshwari chappal with jeans trend), or whether they’re a homage to his dear Pakistani friend, artist Imran Qureshi.
Here’s how it looks like:
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Christian Louboutin is Doing Peshawari Chappals
Besides the bedazzling brand campaign, this rendition of the Peshwari chappal has that signature red sole that Louboutin is known for.
The shoes don’t have a price tag yet as they’re not featured on the Italian design house’s website.
Interestingly, the images of this chappal were removed from Instagram. We wonder what prompted that reaction?
Not the First Time
Western fashion brands have been under fire over copying ethnic designs, and for indulging in cultural appropriation. This is just one of many instances where ethnic designs have been copied and replicated in the West and sold for exorbitant prices.
A few years ago, Paul Smith did the same:
English menswear designerĀ Sir Paul SmithĀ landed in hot waters back in 2014 when he too replicated these chappals, called the design his own and sold them in the market for a whopping Ā£300. To top that all, he named the shoe ‘Robert’.
Besides high-end brands and couture houses, fast fashion brands are also guilty of this ethnicĀ appropriation. Forever 21Ā copied Pakistan’s traditional Kohla-puri chappal back in 2017.
Look if you were really trying to appreciateĀ culture you wouldn’t try to baptize culturalĀ items and call them Robert (like a con-man).
We certainly hope that Christian Louboutin has learnt from its mistake.
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