Attire of Qashqai Nomadic Women 7

Tribal Women’s Footwear

A tribal woman is constantly active and on the move. Migration and walking throughout the year necessitate footwear with specific characteristics:

• It should be lightweight so that she can move easily.
• Putting it on and taking it off should be easy and not time-consuming.
• It should be durable and resistant on rocky and mountainous terrain.
• It should be elegant and beautiful and affordable for everyone.

This type of footwear, which tribal women have used for many years, is a special kind of “Melki” (a type of traditional shoe) made in some cities of Fars province, including Abadeh, Shiraz, Qalat-e Fars, and some other villages.

Giveh (another type of traditional shoe) and Melki are among the lightest and most comfortable footwear, made from completely natural materials, namely cotton thread.

The method of making Melki is explained in the section on men’s footwear (IQSWS: which will be available on the website later in the men’s clothing section). In addition, women’s Melki is very delicate, and the front part is woven like tulle fabric. The sole is chosen to be thinner than men’s Melki. Today, in most tribes, leather or plastic shoes have replaced the good and delicate Melkis.

Giveh (another type of traditional shoe) and Melki are among the lightest and most comfortable footwear, made from completely natural materials, namely cotton thread. Unfortunately, modern man does not choose shoes for the sake of the person; rather, the person is at the service of shoes and clothing. How unsightly is a shoe that appears elegant but causes dozens of discomforts for the wearer, and for the sake of outward glitter or fashion, one accepts its very narrow toe, high heel, hard leather, and foot pain.

The evolution of shoes, from the time they were wooden sandals and later transformed into leather, to the various shoes worn for greater comfort and functionality, like Giveh, shows that in the civilized world, beauty is considered more important than comfort. A tribal woman with her simple Melki walks 10–15 kilometers daily without experiencing corns, foot odor, or other discomfort. Now, which shoe can have this much durability and not hurt the foot?

This information is taken directly from the book Siyəh Çadorha – Mənuçehr Kiyani

کتاب سیاه چادرها از دکتر منوچهر کیانی (in persian)

To be continued…