PESHAWAR — A new sandal from designer Paul Smith based on a traditional Pakistani style has amused shopkeepers in its “hometown” Peshawar — both for its $500 price tag and what they say is its outdated look. Pakistan’s chattering classes took to social media on Monday to berate the fashion house for “stealing” the design of Peshawari chappals for its “Robert” sandal, priced at 300 pounds ($500).



But in the markets of Peshawar, the rugged northwestern city from where the hardy chappal originates, shopkeepers were more concerned that the British designer known for his signature multicolored stripe was behind the times. “This design is outdated.



Some people in their 60s or 70s ask for that design sometimes,” Kamran Khalil of the city’s Shoe Shop said. The high-gloss black leather, thin sole and open toe of the Paul Smith sandal have long been out of favor in Peshawar, Farhad Ullah, whose family have been making shoes in Peshawar for 70 years, explained. After a day of Twitter outrage and an online petition, the Paul Smith website changed the product description to say the sandal was “inspired by the Peshawari chappal.” — AFP