THESE DAYS, WHAT WORKS for women works just as well for men too. And with androgyny so much in vogue in haute couture, there’s no reason why the kolhapuris, the original item of unisex footwear, should not get the best of both worlds. So after the kolhapuri chappals for women got a designer inter-pretation, being married to wedges and plat-form and seen everywhere from upmarket stores to fashion streets in neon colours, it’s the men who’re slipping into them this season. There’s something new in the kolhapuri’s latest avatar for men—the nouveau adapta-tion of the traditional handcrafted kolhapuris.

Once, these chappals were rustic, rugged and not quite an easy slip-on. Often, the sizes in the right and the left foot were different and the footwear had to be soaked in water before use. Soon, the chappals began being redone, the cardboard within was discarded and the pokey nails made way for stitches and adhe-sives. It then became okay to wear the chappals when at home or even to college, but night-clubs and kolhapuris for men were still strangers to each other.

In its glitzy new makeover, the kolhapuri this season is being seen in beads, crystals, raw silk, lace, plaits, braids and weaves. Branding these chappals and giving them exotic names, like Silken Charms, Twinkle Toes and In-noweave, designers have given them a new avatar.

While women may prefer their kolhapuris with platform heels, thin soles are more in vogue when it comes to men’s styles. Even the shade card of kolhapuris has changed, with new, exciting colours. ‘‘The traditional walnut colour is out, one can pick up a pair in new darker shades. A lot of bloody shades in red are being seen,’’ says designer Nikhil Mehra. ‘‘The latest in men’s wear is Khussa, inspired by Pak-istani tradition. Tile ka Kaam is also hot this season,” he adds.

... contd.