Giveh shoes: buying and caring for handmade Iranian footwear

What makes a good giveh

• Tightly knitted or crocheted cotton upper (rouyeh)
• Sole made of compressed layers of cloth (or leather/rubber in modern pairs)
• Even stitching joining upper to sole
• Comfortable toe shape for your foot

Sizing

Giveh stretch slightly with wear. Buy snug, not tight.

Care

Brush off dirt and let them air out. Hand-wash uppers carefully; keep traditional cloth soles dry.

A note on this guide

This is a general introduction written by the CraftPersia editorial team and has not yet been reviewed by a specialist. Workshop practice varies between towns and families; treat dates and figures as approximate and confirm details with makers, museums or published scholarship before relying on them.