The Baaz Story: Why We Started, What We Built, and Who Made It

There is a problem nobody was talking about. The Peshawari chappal — one of the most recognisable pieces of Pukhtoon identity — was quietly being left behind.

Not because people stopped loving it. But because the versions available in the market had drifted far from what made it special. Authentic designs were being cut short. Comfort was an afterthought. And for a younger generation that grew up wearing sneakers, the traditional chappal simply did not fit into daily life.

Something had to change. So we decided to change it.

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01 — The Problem

Why We Started

We are from KP. The Peshawari chappal is not a product to us — it is part of who we are. It is what our fathers wore to weddings and to work. It is what our uncles still pull out for Eid. There is a dignity to it that no sneaker can replicate.

But we also knew why our generation was not buying them. They were uncomfortable. The rigid soles were unforgiving after an hour on your feet. Nobody had thought seriously about what it would take to make a chappal you could actually wear all day without thinking about it.

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02 — The Materials

How We Designed It

We started with materials. Not because it was the easiest place to start, but because everything else follows from it.

• 100% premium cow leather — ages with you, develops character, holds its structure for years
• 100% original cowhide suede — a texture that is instantly recognisable and impossible to replicate cheaply
• 100% original top-grain leather — no shortcuts, no blends, no material that looks good in photos but falls apart in six months

Then came the designs. We went back to the authentic silhouettes worn by our forefathers and built from there. Every cut, every proportion, every stitch follows a tradition that is older than any of us.

Old Money Black  ·  Heritage Chestnut

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03 — The Comfort

Fixing What Nobody Fixed

Anyone who has ever worn a traditional Peshawari chappal knows the feeling by afternoon. The sole starts to feel like a plank. Your feet hurt. You take them off.

We were not willing to accept that. Comfort is not a luxury — it is the whole point of footwear.

So we fixed it two ways. First, every pair comes fitted with a dotted memory foam insole. It molds gradually to the shape of your foot, which means the longer you wear them, the better they feel. The cushioning is personalised, literally shaped by you over time.

Second, we replaced the heavy rigid sole with either a rubber sole or an EVA foam sole — the same type used in Skechers comfort shoes. It makes the chappal flexible enough to wear from morning to night without your feet registering a complaint.

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04 — The Craft

The People Who Make Them

There is a workshop in KP where every pair of Baaz chappals is made. It is not a factory. The people who work there are craftsmen in the old sense of the word. They cut the leather by hand. They stitch it by hand. They shape each pair the way their fathers showed them.

When we say handmade, we mean it in the most literal way. There is no machine doing the work that matters.

This also means each pair takes time. You cannot rush hand-stitching without the quality showing. We accepted that constraint early — because the alternative was to compromise on the one thing we refused to compromise on.

Baaz Signature Black                            Autumn Dune

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05 — The Experience

Every Detail, Considered

We thought carefully about every detail of the Baaz experience. The name. The packaging. The card inside the box. The moment someone opens their order.

Because if you are buying something handmade, crafted by skilled hands from premium materials, the experience of receiving it should reflect that. It should not arrive in a generic brown box with a printed receipt. It should feel like something worth owning.

The thank you card was not an afterthought. The tags were not an afterthought. None of it was.

Burnt Cedar  ·  Old Money Brown

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06 — The Proof

What Customers Said

Handcrafted in KP — The Baaz Collection