LOCAL SLIPPERS BIHAR CHOICE

Cool slippers sweep residents off feet

AAROHI KESHAV

A boy checks out a Rajasthani jootiat a shop in Patna. Picture by Deepak Kumar Patna, Oct. 25: Big, heavy and formal shoes may ring an alarm bell for our politicians but they don’t impress the capital buyers anymore. Patnaites have taken a fancy to sleek, comfortable and light pair of slippers. Gone are the days when gentlemen were judged by their shoes. Now shoes are seen more as a “potential weapon to target an enemy”. Slippers, on the other hand, have gained in popularity among the youths in Patna. According to them, slippers are not just comfortable to wear but also hep and stylish. Also, slippers are more suited to Patna weather, which is hot and humid for most part of the year. The demand for slippers has increased over the past few years, say the footwear sellers. This has pushed shopkeepers to order more slippers. Almost all markets in the capital are flooded with funky pairs of flat slippers, ranging from Hawai chappals to kolhapuris to Osho or Chatai chappals in all possible colours. Even the early winter chill hasn’t affected the sales of the slippers. One can easily spot boys and girls pairing slippers with jeans, t-shirts and kurtas. Rashmi Ranjan, an engineering student, has a collection of slippers and she often pairs them with her clothes and bags. She said: “I am more comfortable wearing flat chappals. They are stylish and can be easily paired with jeans, t-shirt or kurtis.” Not only girls, boys too have taken a liking for slippers. Subham Saket, a second-year law student, loves wearing slippers. Colourful slippers are his favourite but he also likes wearing kolhapuris and traditional Rajasthani jootis. He said: “I like them because they are not very expensive and you can buy a pair anytime.” Sanjay Kumar, a footwear shop owner in Boring Road, said: “The demand for slippers has increased tremendously. Young people demand slippers more than shoes. They like buying them in different colours. It is mostly the colour and design that attract the crowd. Also slippers are quite cheap compared to formal shoes and sandals available in big shops.” There are a good number of slipper shops in the posh areas of Boring Road. For those who prefer kolhapuris, Patna Market and Hathuwa market are the ideal places to visit. If one can bargain well, a decent pair of kolhapuri jooti can be bought for Rs 100 to 350 a pair. This “chappal comfort” is being cashed in by big brands as well. They are manufacturing and supplying colourful slippers for all age groups. The brand freaks can buy slippers from showrooms of Levis, Puma, Adidas, Reebok, Nike etc. These shops have a good collection of flat slippers. The branded shippers are a little expensive and often cost above Rs 500. “I don't like non-branded stuff. And when it comes to footwear, they are ought to be branded,” said Piyush Gupta, a final-year MBA student. Gupta liked slippers but purchased them only after he found them on display at a big brand showroom. Puneet Prakash, a first-year engineering student, was in the habit of wearing shoes all the time. In summer too, he used to sport formal shoes despite the mercury soaring and breaking new records. He wore slippers only when his friends advised him against wearing shoes in sweltering heat. “My friends use to wear slippers and after seeing them, I too bought a pair. Thanks to them, I now feel much more comfortable in my footwear. I have discovered the ease of slippers. Even when I travel to distant places, I prefer wearing slippers instead of shoes,” said Puneet. Some working professionals even prefer wearing slippers to their office. Vicky Bansal, research analyst with Gail Research, said: “Generally on SaturdaysI prefer wearing slippers as they are more comfortable and easy to carry.” “Wearing shoe is a messy task. It’s time-consuming and often troubles you. I wish I could wear slippers on all working days but then in corporate culture, it’s practically impossible to attend office meetings in slippers.” Given the sharp demand for slippers, days are not far when corporate offices may allow its executives to wear cool and funky slippers. Adding to the popularity of slippers are big Bollywood stars, including John Abraham and Ranbir Kapoor, sporting the footwear at formal and informal gatherings. The inexpensive footwear has also found its place on the ramp of big fashion shows.