Peshawari Chappal Glossary: Styles, Parts, Soles and Leather
This glossary explains the words used for Peshawari, Norozi and Charsadda chappals: the styles, the parts of a chappal, the soles, the leather and the sizes. Each term links to the collection or guide where you can see it.
Jump to: Styles · Parts of a chappal · Soles · Leather and finishes · Sizes and fit · Places · Clothes and occasions · Buying and service
Chappal styles
- Chappal
- An open leather sandal worn without socks. In Pakistan the word covers everyday sandals as well as traditional styles such as the Peshawari chappal.
- Peshawari chappal
- The traditional men’s leather sandal of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, named after Peshawar, with a closed leather front, an open heel and a back strap with a buckle. See the Peshawari chappal collection.
- Kheri
- Another name for the Peshawari chappal, often written as Peshawari kheri.
- Chappli or chapli
- Spellings of chappal that people use when they search. A chapli kebab is a food and has nothing to do with the sandal.
- Kaptaan chappal
- A Peshawari chappal with a plain closed front. Kaptaan means captain, the nickname of Imran Khan, who made the style famous. See the Kaptaan chappal collection.
- Smart Zalmi chappal
- A slimmer, sleeker cut of the classic Peshawari chappal, worn for Eid and events. See the Smart Zalmi collection.
- Norozi chappal
- A chappal with a woven leather front on a thick double tyre sole, often called Quetta Norozi. See the Norozi chappal collection.
- Charsadda chappal
- A handmade chappal from Charsadda, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Takidar, Panjedar and Gol T are Charsadda designs. See the Charsadda chappal collection.
- Takidar
- A Charsadda design with rows of hand stitching across the front. See the Takidar collection.
- Panjedar
- A Charsadda design with an open, cut-out front that keeps the foot cool. See the Panjedar collection.
- Gol T
- A Charsadda design with a rounded front in plain leather. See the Gol T collection.
Parts of a chappal
- Upper
- All the leather above the sole: the front panel, the sides and the heel strap.
- Front panel
- The part of the upper that covers the front of the foot. Its shape is what tells one style from another: plain on a Kaptaan, stitched on a Takidar, woven on a Norozi and cut out on a Panjedar.
- Heel strap
- The strap that goes around the back of the heel and holds the chappal on the foot.
- Buckle
- The metal fastener on the heel strap. It lets you tighten or loosen the fit.
- Footbed or insole
- The inner surface your foot rests on.
- Lining
- The inner layer inside the upper.
- Outsole
- The bottom layer of the sole that touches the ground.
Soles
- Tyre sole
- A hard-wearing outsole cut from vehicle tyre rubber. Kaptaan, Smart Zalmi and Takidar pairs sit on a tyre sole.
- Double tyre sole
- Two layers of tyre sole stacked for a thicker, heavier base, as on a Norozi chappal.
- Medium sole
- A medium height sole used on some Takidar and suede designs. See the medium sole collection.
- GoGo sole
- A thin, flat sole that keeps the chappal light, for easy daily wear. See the GoGo chappal collection.
- Vibram sole
- A rubber outsole under the Vibram name, the Italian sole maker. It is thicker, with a deeper tread, than a tyre sole. See the Vibram sole collection.
- Resoling
- Replacing a worn sole while keeping the original upper. Zalmi resoles its chappals when the sole wears out.
Leather and finishes
- Cow leather
- Leather made from cattle hide. Zalmi chappals are cut from genuine cow leather, except the suede styles.
- Suede
- Leather with a soft, brushed surface and a matte look. See the suede chappal collection.
- Hand stitching
- Seams sewn by hand with a needle and thread. Every Zalmi chappal is stitched by hand.
- Glossy finish
- A polished leather surface with a high shine.
- Matte finish
- A leather surface with little or no shine.
- Double shade
- A two-tone colour finish on the leather, usually a lighter and a darker brown.
- Dotted leather
- Leather with a small raised dot pattern on the surface.
- Crocodile texture
- Leather pressed with a crocodile skin pattern, used on several Takidar designs.
- Imli
- A colour name meaning tamarind: a dark, reddish brown.
Sizes and fit
- UK size
- The size system Zalmi uses. Chappals come in UK 6 to 12. See the size guide and size finder.
- Foot length
- The distance from your heel to your longest toe, in centimetres. It is the surest way to choose a size.
- Made to order
- A pair that is made after you order it. Sizes 13 and 14 are made to order.
- Custom size
- A pair made to your own foot measurement. Send your foot length on WhatsApp to arrange one.
Places
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
- The province in north-west Pakistan where the Peshawari chappal comes from.
- Peshawar
- The capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, after which the Peshawari chappal is named.
- Charsadda
- A district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, home of the Charsadda chappal and of the Zalmi workshop.
- Quetta
- The capital of Balochistan, whose name is linked with the Quetta Norozi style.
Clothes and occasions
- Shalwar kameez
- A long shirt with loose trousers, the outfit most often worn with a chappal. See what to wear with a Peshawari chappal.
- Khaddar
- A thick, hand-woven cotton cloth, worn mostly in winter.
- Waistcoat
- A sleeveless jacket worn over a kameez for Eid, weddings and events.
- Jummah
- The Friday congregational prayer, a common occasion for wearing a chappal.
Buying and service
- Cash on delivery
- Paying the courier in cash when the parcel arrives. Zalmi offers cash on delivery across Pakistan.
- Free delivery
- Zalmi delivers free to every city in Pakistan in 3 to 7 working days.
- Refund or replacement
- Within 7 days you can get a refund or a replacement on unused pairs in their original packaging. Read the return and refund policy.
- Warranty
- Every Zalmi chappal has a 6 month quality warranty.