Punjabi juttis in Ottawa
Flat, hand-worked and the correct answer to almost every Indian outfit. Also the one thing you genuinely have to try on.
Juttis are sized by feel rather than by a chart. They are made on a last that does not match Canadian shoe sizing, there is no left and right on a traditional pair, and leather from different makers stretches differently. Ordering a pair online is a coin flip. Trying three pairs on takes five minutes.
The styles
Embroidered — silk or zari thread work on leather or velvet, the everyday-festive pair that goes with most suits. Mirror work — small shisha mirrors, brighter, and the ones that catch light in photographs. Bridal — heavier work, often in red, maroon or gold, sometimes with beading or pearl detailing, made to sit under a lehenga where only the toe shows. Plain leather — usually men's, in tan, black or cream, and the most wearable of the lot.
Buy them with the outfit
This is the practical advice that saves the most trouble. Hem length on a lehenga or a churidar is cut to the shoe, so choosing the juttis afterwards means either a second alteration or a hem that is subtly wrong all evening. Bring the outfit, or buy both in the same visit.
Looking after them
Keep them dry — these are not Ottawa winter shoes, and salt is the end of embroidered leather. Carry them and change at the venue if the weather is against you. Wipe with a dry cloth, store them somewhere they can breathe, and a good pair will outlast several outfits.
Sizing, plainly
Buy for length, expect the width to give, and never buy a pair the day before you need them. Nearly every complaint anyone has about juttis traces back to one of those three.
Jutti questions
How should juttis fit when they are new?
Snug, but not painful. Leather juttis stretch across the width with wear and barely at all in length, so buy for length first. If your toes are pressed against the end in the shop, they will still be pressed against the end in a year.
How do I break them in?
Wear them around the house for an hour or two at a time for a few days before the event. Thick socks help stretch the width. Do not soak them and do not force them with heat — leather that has been wet and dried hard never feels the same again.
Are they comfortable enough for a whole wedding?
A broken-in pair is. A pair bought the day before is not, which is the mistake people make every season. Buy them when you buy the outfit, not the week of the wedding.
Do men wear juttis too?
Very much so, usually in plain leather, tan, black or cream, or with subtle tonal work for a wedding. They are the standard pairing with a kurta pajama or a sherwani.
Tell us what the occasion is
Send a message and Gurvinder will reply herself — usually the same day. If you would rather see things in person, the showroom is open seven days.
Barrhaven, Ottawa · Open 7 days · 10am – 9pm