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Updated 25 Mar, 2019

French fashion designer Christian Louboutin's gone the Paul Smith route, and that might just cost him.

The designer's found a love for Peshawari chappals and he's now re-introducing them to the world of fashion. He's named his latest creation "Imran sandals".

Also read: A chappal of two cities: The £300 Paul Smith surprise

We're not quite sure if they've been named after PM Imran Khan because of his fondness for Peshawari chappals or whether they're a homage to his dear Pakistani friend, artist Imran Qureshi.

Nonetheless, these red soles are high on the glamour quotient; they've got sparkle, studs and the Louboutin logo.

We wonder how much they're going to be priced at, not cheap, that's for sure... but we'll wait till they're featured on the design house's website.

Also read: This hot new line of shoes at Forever 21 looks strangely familiar

This is just one of many instances where ethnic designs have been copied and replicated in the West and sold for exorbitant prices. English menswear designer Sir Paul Smith found himself in hot waters in 2014 when he replicated these chappals as his own and sold them in the market for a whopping £300... and also named them 'Robert'.

But it's not just the high-end brands who have been caught in the act, Forever 21 copied our good ol' fashioned kohla-puri chappal back in 2017.

If you don't know already, this is offensive and highly irresponsible. Please stop.

Comments

Mani Mar 24, 2019 06:32pm
I don't think it's totally copied. Inspired may be the right term and he has certainly made it his own.
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Arshad Mar 24, 2019 06:57pm
Does not matter which Imran influenced this design. But the matter of fact is Pakistani products are superior in quality but lack good salesmanship. There is a huge potential to market our products world over with products which only Pakistan has. Government should help businessmen build the supply chain and promote Pakistani origin foreigners to get into retail business with bulk product purchase from Pakistan. Government should make necessary mechanism which guarantees payment to suppliers in Pakistan and also guarantees quality for buyers outside both to Pakistani origin businessmen as well as buyers of other origin.
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Issak Mar 24, 2019 07:03pm
It's a question of who gets royalty,money and publicity... major shoe brands like Nike ,puma,Aldo and others are always on the lookout for for new designs...they ought to open manufacturing plants in Pakistan or order directly from footwear makers here...
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SHAH S Mar 24, 2019 07:08pm
Every one on the street copies and makes it.. so whats the big deal; Nobody took the initiative to Register its Design and various versions in the Patent Office to make it protected to not be copied by such designer giants; One Patent issued, then these Designers would be required to pay Royalty Fees and Profit Sharing;
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Imran Mar 24, 2019 10:06pm
A Pakistani design copied and charging 300 ? Hmmm we could have done that.
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shami1 Mar 24, 2019 10:20pm
They can outsource to Pakistani Chappal makers. They are very good at it and its much cheaper.
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Parvez Mar 24, 2019 10:47pm
A good shoe does not just look good .... it must also be extremely comfortable and Louboutin has correctly identified these qualities in the Peshawari chappal.
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NewBorn Mar 24, 2019 11:40pm
Just call them Peshwari Chapal and then sell them. What's the fuss.
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Calderon DeJesus Mar 24, 2019 11:53pm
Our products including songs & music are copied by Bollywood without due recognition so why not chappal??
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Mansoor Ali Mar 24, 2019 11:56pm
I agree with Arshad
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Yasmin Arshad Mar 25, 2019 12:10am
This is why our government should patent items that are a part of our cultural heritage. So that small cottage industries can be protected from cultural appropriation and rip offs like this. There is no legal framework protecting small business owners who can earn good money if given the chance to sell their product internationally. Even if Louboutin wants to sell them, a patent or some form of legal protection could make sure that a percentage of the profits go to the industry or people to whom this design belongs.
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M Shahabz sajjad Mar 25, 2019 01:02am
This is pure copy and it belong to us
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On the train Mar 25, 2019 03:20am
Looks awful.
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fairplay Mar 25, 2019 05:40am
Such euphemism and lies, reinvented! No, call it what it is copying!
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fairplay Mar 25, 2019 05:43am
@Mani make a croissant and call it a croissant, the French will file suit, because legally only they can make croissants. It is NOT okay. A copy is still a copy. Pay royalties to the cobblers in Pakistan.
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fairplay Mar 25, 2019 05:47am
The croissant claimed by the French to be French, is actually a bread made by the Turks, hence its shape is like a crescent moon. It originally wasn't French.
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Daskalos Mar 25, 2019 07:21am
The KPK government should sue this illegal exploitation of the cultural property of the province.
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Asfandyar Khan Mar 25, 2019 01:31pm
At least he should call it Peshawari Chappal not Imran.
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Khalid Mar 25, 2019 01:33pm
Best commercial when the beauty of your culture gets noticed by famous designers.
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Asad Mar 25, 2019 05:19pm
PTI would say that N league invested in
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Iltifat Mar 26, 2019 06:13pm
Pheswari chappal are for men. This design is for more for women
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Maii Mar 28, 2019 04:35am
I think as long and he mentions where he got the inspiration from and acknowledges that it is a traditional Peshawari design then it shouldn’t be a problem! Just promoting our beautiful culture and designs !
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