Slippers Fit For a Princess

I promised to share more memories of my trip to Pakistan and India so I'm here to continue ...

As I mentioned before, I journeyed to Asia almost 15 years ago for several months to visit my parents who lived in Pakistan at the time.  What an incredible experience.  One weekend, my mom took my sister and I to Lok Virsa, the National Institute of Folk & Traditional Heritage in Islamabad which was hosting a craft faire.  I was overwhelmed by so many incredibly talented artisans who were crafting their creations right there in front of us.  My sister filmed the afternoon and hopefully someday you will be able to link to the video.

That afternoon, I came across a very serious man with a beautiful face and beautiful hands embroidering slippers that would seem to have come from some Arabian kings treasure chest!  And he was selling them for a fraction of what I would have imagined.  Alas, I couldn't resist.  

Last Sunday, as I was cleaning out my closet, I found them all covered in dust bunnies. I was relieved as I had been searching the garage for months looking for them!  So, I cleaned them up and photographed them to share with you. You MUST click on the photos to see them close up....and to think this guy doesn't even wear glasses!!!!

 "The preservation and promotion of the traditional culture, folk arts and folklore are instrumental in strengthening a nation’s identity.Pakistan, like most other developing countries of Asia & Africa is in a transitional phase. Along with being faced with the challenge of preserving its cultural heritage, Pakistan also has to meet the needs of a nation in the modern industrial world."

"Tradition and change go together. These are like two wheels of a carriage that must move in unison for advancement. No nation can afford to progress in industry, science and technology at the utter neglect and cost of its cultural awareness."

~ Lok Virsa ~