During your travel to Morocco, you will come across an endless variety of souvenirs to purchase especially in enormous souk (market) such as in Fes and Marrakech. The Moroccan babouche, a traditional Moroccan leather slipper makes a great gift for friends and family. You may also want to purchase a pair of babouche for yourself as it is both durable and comfortable to wear.
You will find that the babouche comes in an assortment of colours and designs. Picking the right pair of babouche is not so easy and may not be as simple as picking a pair of running shoes from your passport country. What are some things to look out for when picking a pair of babouche? Are there different types of babouche? Which type should you pick? How do you pick the right pair?
The following is a simple guide that will help you select the pair of Moroccan babouche that is a good fit for your need.
The Right Type
The first thing you need to consider when purchasing a pair of babouche is whether you intend to wear it indoor or outdoor. Babouche intended for indoors will have a softer sole, whereas babouche intended for outdoors will have a hard sole on the bottom.
The Right Style
Next, consider all the colour and pattern options for your indoor/outdoor babouche. There are ones with pointed toes and others with rounded toes. Some have single matte colour selection while others have very intricate embroideries and patterned designs.
The Right Fit
Next, you will want to try on a pair of your desired babouche. When choosing your babouche size, you cannot use the same measurements as your shoes or sandals. The key to finding the right size is to find a pair that fits tightly onto your feet without much wriggle room. Babouche are meant to be stiff when first worn, but it will slowly stretch a little and mold to the shape of your foot over some time. A pair of “worked-in” babouche will feel as if it was custom made for your feet.
Finding the Right Pair of Moroccan Babouche
A nice pair of babouche can last a few years before it needs to be replaced. You will notice that the babouche are not only preferred by tourists, but many locals wear them inside and outside the home. If you are unsure of the quality of the babouche, it is best to ask the locals or to visit the shops where locals shop.
You can also observe the colour and designs of the babouche worn by locals to determine the current fashion trends. During my last visit to Fes, I purchased a pair of brown pointed babouche with a simple embroidery based on what I observed to be the latest fashion trend among Moroccan men. You decide whether you want to go with the fashion trend or choose something that speaks to your personality! Shopping for the right pair of babouche can be a tremendously fun experience! We hope that you will enjoy the whole shopping experience!
Other Morocco Shopping Guides
You might also be interested in our Guide to Purchasing Moroccan Carpets.
