Giveh is one of Iran’s traditional clogs and is in the traditional clothing group, and it was one of the main clogs for men in the past, especially in summer. Giveh(Shiraz souvenirs) is a particular style of shoe with a sole made of leather, rubber, or pressed fabrics and a top made of cotton or silk with the hands. In Tati, Giveh is known as “Jiveh.” Its top is made of cotton thread, which was spun and woven by women, and the sole part of it was also sewn by men.

The top is often constructed of cloth manufactured using an old method known as Nalbinding (not weaving), which predates knitting or crochet. The sole is typically comprised of rubber or leather. Let’s talk more about the beautiful and traditional Iranian Giveh shoes down below.

History of Giveh

The preservation of the body from environmental hazards like cold, heat, blazing sun, wind, or human nature’s innate modesty has been cited throughout history as a reason for the development of clothing. Written records claim that the reliefs, paintings, and other artworks depicting Iranians’ clothing from antiquity to the present show numerous changes in this nation’s population’s attire.

The needles obtained from the Neolithic period show that humans at that time were able to connect the skins of animals to each other by means of strips made from the skin.

A shoe that is comfortable, light, cool, resistant, and at the same time affordable, being able to be produced by nomads, villagers, and semi-urban communities with the existing facilities in the region, is needed because of the lack of communication, the type of livelihood based on animal husbandry and agriculture, and the necessity of a lot of movement during the three seasons of spring, summer, and autumn (which are the working seasons).

The history of the tiny cotton weaving industry is not well known. The famous historian Al-Balkhi mentions in 1105 AD that Ghandijan (Jamileh Morouz) in Fars was famous for the weaving industry, and in 1340 AD when the geographer Mustofi visited there, he writes that the weaving profession was at the peak of development.

Giveh is one of the oldest footwear that was once widely used especially in the summer season. In recent years due to the prevalence of leather and non-leather shoes and their replacement instead of old footwear in most regions of Iran, the Iranian Giveh Shoes have lost their ancient prosperity and prestige. Giveh has been made by artists in Qazvin province since long ago.

In the past, most women and girls have been familiar with the fabric of the top. Weaving is still somewhat common in the regions of Qazvin, Buin Zahra and Takestan, especially in the “Ek” village.

Raw materials of Giveh

The raw material and the tool for weaving the top of Iranian Giveh shoes that are cotton-made include cotton thread, and silk thread in the case of silk Givehs. The raw materials used for making the soles are leather and canvas, and today ready-made soles are made of plastic.

Tools and equipment for Making a Giveh

The required tools for making Iranian Giveh shoes include a special needle and sometimes a hook.

Stages of Producing a Giveh

A type of footwear known as “Giveh” has a top made of cotton or silk threads and is woven using a hook or needle known locally as “Tavane.”

Following the preparation of the raw materials, the weaver begins weaving the top of the Giveh using a weaver needle and sturdy, double-stranded cotton thread. The weaver begins at the top of the Giveh with a few rows that loop around the head of the knitting yarn, and then adds successive rows to it and gradually expands it around.

They start weaving the heel once the necessary length has been obtained and is sufficiently woven. When it reaches the stage where the woven part is in the shape of a circle, a few more rows are woven to make Givehs’ anklet. In this method, the fabric of the top of the Giveh is woven in one piece and looks like a sock, and the bottom part is opened when it is laid.

It will take about two days to knit the top of the Givehs with medium-thickness yarn. The best Iranian Giveh Shoes are woven from a fine cotton two-fold thread. Sometimes, in some areas, beautiful geometric patterns are woven on these Givehs, which create small holes during weaving.

In some regions of Qazvin province, the weaving of the top is done with silk and hooks. The artist starts weaving according to the desired size of the top. The top is woven in one piece with a hook. The artist makes the top about one or two centimeters larger, then weaves its actual dimensions so that it is easier to sew the Giveh to its sole. In the past, most women, both rural and urban, were familiar with the fabric of the top. In fact, before all kinds of ready-made leather and rubber shoes became popular among people, most men used Giveh in spring and summer. Of course, the use of this footwear is still popular among some urban or rural people as a fashionable item.

Colors and Patterns of Iranian Giveh Shoes

It is common to use white cotton thread and black or white silk thread. Most of the woven Givehs in Qazvin province are white and simple without any patterns.

Weaving Givehs has been very prosperous in the village of “Ek” in Takestan. The villages of “Sute Kash” in Qazvin and Alamut, as well as in Abyek, also used to weave silk tops. Among the artists Giveh weaving, we can mention master Izatullah Taherkhani in Takestan and Khanum Hourieh and Zahra Esmaili in Qazvin. Today, due to the creation of creativity and updating in the weaving of Giveh weaving, we are witnessing the widespread growth of this art.

The top of the Givehs made for men is usually white, and colored threads and sometimes beads are used to weave the women’s Givehs.

Giveh can make for a great Iranian souvenir due to their sandal-like design that is both lightweight and airy, making them perfect for keeping your feet cool on warm days.