The babouche comes from the Persian word papush which means  pa, or foot, and push, or to cover. Its history dates back centuries, to around 300 B.C, in fact, where they first appeared in the Arab-Muslim world and were worn by women to cover their toes out of modesty.

A babouche is made out of leather, and the artisan who crafts such masterpieces is called a babouchier.

A babouchier must always keep his hands dry and clean before handling the grained goat skin. The goat skin forms the uppers of the babouche while the calf skin that forms that sole of the shoe.

A slight bit of moisture will cause the leather to lose its form.

This famous pair of slippers were worn by everyone—by men, women and children. Everyone chooses their pair, called belgha (for men) and charbil (for women).

Everyone wears them regardless of social status, the rich or the poor, even the elderly and kids.

Whatever their design or model, these shoes are perfect for both traditional and fashionable outfits. A bright-colored pair with patterns and embroidery is perfect for weddings and celebrations, while a plain and simple pair is usually worn at home.

The babouche can be divided into 2 main types:

• Berber Babouche which is very solid and has a rubber sole with a rounded tip. Used mainly outdoors, it has a leather lining inside to help with perspiration and to keep the feet cool.
• The Arab Babouche, also called the “traditional babouche” or the term “Arabian shoes” as we know it. They are made out of leather or sabra (vegetable silk) and usually come pointed and sometimes curled up at the toes. They are very elegant and spread to Europe in 1542, by the colonial expeditions to North Africa.