Multani Khusa
Khussa (Urdu: کُھسّہ ), is a style of South Asian handcrafted footwear produced in Punjab Pakistan. Khussa are made by artisans mostly using vegetable-tanned leather. The uppers are made of one piece of leather or textile embroidered and embellished with brass nails, cowry shells, mirrors, bells and ceramic beads. Even the bonding from the upper to the sole is done by cotton thread that is not only eco-friendly but also enmeshes the leather fibers with great strength. Some product range also uses bright and ornate threads.[1] In ancient times these were worn by multitude and royalty. As it evolved through the centuries and is being produced by individual artisans, products vary in designs and colours. It encapsules cultural diversity, local ethos and ethnicity. The ethnicity of the traditional skills accentuate into poetry when intermingled with the contemporary colours and designs. Applique in form of differently designed figures are cut out of leather and sewn on the vamp manually. The design would dictate the nature, colour and shape of the appliqué. It could range from an intricate appliqué which itself could incorporate other design features like embroidery, punches, weaves, etc., to a simple cut out shape from any material like leather, textile, synthetic, etc.
Dress
Multani men wear the straight cut Multani shalwar kameez, kurta and shalwar, dhoti, lungi or tehmat and kurta. Other Multani shalwar styles include the Pothohari shalwar, Multani shalwar, Dhoti shalwar and the Bahawalpuri shalwar which is very wide and baggy with many folds. Turban of a thin cloth is also worn especially in rural areas of Punjab where it is called pagri. Footwear include the khussa..
