Birthday of Sri Guru Ramdas Ji

Craft
occasions,” said Harsimran, a regular
buyer of modern Punjabi juttis.
Harbans Singh, a shopkeeper who
sells traditional juttis at Gill village
said he got the juttis made, especially
from Muktsar and Patiala.
“The artisans in Muktsar and Patiala
possess a rich art of making juttis.
These juttis are soft to wear and
durable. People
from all over Punjab
come to buy
them. NRIs also
form the major
chunk of our regular
customers,” he
adds.
“ W h e n e v e r
there is any special
occasion, I prefer
wearing a Jutti. It
makes me feel
good. Though my
daughter love the
modern version, I
stick to the old
pattern only,” said
Manjinder Gill, a
NRI from Canada
said
The juttis from
Patiala rule the
popularity charts
not only here but
also around the
world. These
‘pieces of art’ are
an inseparable part of Punjabi attire.
Available in simple shades as well as
bright colours with attractive embroidery,
the juttis rule the heart of ethnically
chic Punjabis everywhere. It is
now making waves in cities like London
and New York. None other than
craftsmen in the streets of Patiala are
fanning the rage for the Punjabi jutti
among its newfound fans.
Internationally known as Aladdin
slippers, Indian ballerinas etc, the designer
juttis have become a huge fashion
statement around the world.
In the heart of Patiala’s bustling old market, Adaalat
Bazaar, known for traditional phulkari dupattas and
suits, the jutti has a new look. From plain uppers, the
footwear now comes with serious embellishments such
as dabka, zardozi work and phulkari too. For those looking
for some fun, there’s a jutti with a high heel as well.
The demand overseas, has led to the revival of the jutti
in a new look. “Earlier the jutti could never be customised,
but now karigars are willing to incorporate
everything from logos to embellishments,” says Chandigarh
designer Rupam Grewal.
Mohali-based designer Sahiba J Singh, onene of the
first to offer bespoke juttis in Punjab, dishes out soft
velvet juttis in a colour of one’s choice, adorned with
delicate thread work. She has even paired her juttis with
her riding breeches and continues to wear them with
Western outfits. “Initially juttis came in either black or
tan leather. These days, the options have increased as
everyone wants something unique,” she adds.
Whether it’s New York, London, Paris
or Milan, the jutti can be spotted anywhere.
It jells with any kind of outfit-
-- jumpsuits, maxis, short dresses or
jeans.
Big fashion labels have joined the
bandwagon, lending their touch to the
jutti. Designer Shirin Singh Sangha,
from Chandigarh. rolled out her bespoke
jutti label Needledust last year
and began retailing through the fashion
portal
Seeing the demand for the designer
juttis, Sangha decided to go online
from this year. The designer uses pure
leather, double padding and fabrics
such as brocade, velvet, silk to trimmings
such as ghungroos. With everyone
wanting to wear something
unique, gone are the days when juttis
came in only tan or black leather.
Whether it is to do with the rising demand,
or the fact that ‘kaarigars’ are
willing to incorporate unconventional
changes, the jutti is no longer restricted
to being traditional.
Mohali-based designer Sahiba J
Singh has specialized in dishing out
out soft velvet juttis in a colour of
one’s choice, adorned with delicate
thread work. She has even paired her
juttis with her riding breeches and continues
to wear
them with Western
outfits. “Initially
juttis came in either
black or tan
leather. These
days, the options
have increased as
everyone wants
s o m e t h i n g
unique,” she adds.
Elsewhere, in
the heart of Patiala’s
bustling old
market, Adaalat
Bazaar, known for
t r a d i t i o n a l
phulkari dupattas
and suits, the jutti
has a new look.
From plain uppers,
the footwear
now comes with
serious embellishments
such as
dabka, zardozi
work and phulkari
too. For those
looking for some fun, there’s a jutti
with a high heel as well. The demand
overseas, says Chandigarh-based designer
Rupam Grewal, has led to the
revival of the jutti in a new look. Recently,
she too has forayed into shoe
design and has been stitching up bespoke
shoes and juttis for brides under
her label, Jaamawar Minx. “Earlier the
jutti could never be customised, but
now karigars are willing to incorporate
everything from logos to embellishments,”
says Grewal. Customisation is
definitely the key.
October 2015
Punjab Advance
31