Ancient tradition returns with modern sparkle as khussa steps into girls’ Eid dreams

ISLAMABAD, May 17 (APP): From the soft fragrance of decorated feet to colorful khussa matching festive dresses, Pakistan’s traditional footwear is once again shining in Eid markets, as young girls and women rush to buy designs carrying a beautiful mix of culture, comfort and modern fashion.

With Eid-ul-Azha approaching, markets across Islamabad and Rawalpindi are glowing with colorful dresses, jewelry and bangles, but some of the biggest crowds can now be seen around khussa shops, where social media reels, fashion vloggers and online trends are rapidly changing customer choices this year.

   

From pearl-work and tila designs to mirror art, dabka work and stylish net khussa, shop windows are filled with colorful pairs matching almost every Eid dress.

In Karachi Company Market, Maria finally found an olive green khussa matching her Eid suit after visiting several shops.

Talking to APP with excitement on her face, she said khussa had become the easiest way for girls to match shoes with every dress without spending heavily on expensive brands.

She said every girl dreams of matching clothes, jewelry and shoes on Eid so she can look unique among friends and cousins.

Maria added that khussa was stylish, affordable and comfortable because of its soft leather and light weight.

Nearby, Sofia, who was selecting pastel-colored khussa, told APP one of the most interesting things about traditional khussa was that it had no fixed right or left foot.

She said the same pair could comfortably fit either foot, which also increased its life. At Commercial Market, biology professor Iqra said she preferred khussa over high heels because it remained comfortable during long Eid gatherings and family visits. She said high heels often caused pain and tiredness, while khussa felt soft and easy for walking.

Traders say social media now changes fashion trends within days.

Abdul Basit, owner of Baba Shoes in Commercial Market, told APP that one viral reel or fashion vlog could suddenly increase demand for a specific design. He said girls now arrived with screenshots and mobile videos, asking for the exact same styles trending online. According to him, most khussa sold in Rawalpindi and Islamabad comes from Multan, while some varieties also arrive from Sindh. He said craftsmen in villages prepare khussa by hand using goat and cow leather before decorating them with embroidery, pearls, tila and mirror work.

According to traders, popular varieties this Eid include Sindhi khussa, tila-work khussa, pearl-work khussa, velvet khussa, mirror-work khussa, dabka khussa and soft net khussa. They added that modern khussa now also includes jelly soles inside the footwear to make it softer and more comfortable for girls and women. Prices range from Rs1,500 to Rs6,000 depending on handwork and design, while specially customized pairs cost even more, they said.

In Raja Bazaar and Kohati Bazaar, colorful khussa shops continue attracting large crowds ahead of Eid.

Meanwhile, sixth-grade student Zainab Naz looked overjoyed after finding an aatishi pink khussa decorated with pearls and dabka work matching her Eid dress. She told APP she wanted to look different from all her friends on Eid day.

As Eid shopping continues across the twin cities, traditional khussa once again proves that old cultural styles never truly fade  they simply return with new colors, modern designs and fresh festive charm