It was nearly a year ago that I discovered the Sabah Dealer.
A chance meeting on Twitter led me to this exotic, almost whimsical Instagram where I was transported to Anatolia. To the bazaars, the buskers and baksheesh and medieval villages. To a world still crafted by hand.
I soon found that behind the Sabah Dealer’s travels were shoes–Sabah’s themselves–hand stitched slippers crafted from calfskin and buffalo leather in the countryside of Turkey.
In other words–I was moved! Moved by a bloody pair of shoes that hit my like a Sufi poem.
At some point I shared my newfound passion for Sabah’s with Jaclyn and, with a trip to NYC in the near future, she emailed The Dealer. His reply came swift and his demeanor warm. He described his story:
“This style of shoe (and more importantly the construction technique) was once the chosen footwear of southeastern Turkey and Syria (dating back nearly 1,000 years), but has now mostly disappeared from daily wear. I personally discovered the shoe style because I lived in Istanbul for several years (working as an expat) and was gifted a pair by a friend’s grandmother who grew up wearing them.
The original style looks more like a genie slipper, not a Sabah. However, I was so impressed by the comfort and quality of my first pair that I wore them almost everyday and everywhere I traveled: the beaches of France, dancing in Beirut, a work trip to Munich, hiking through Morocco, even once with a Tuxedo to a fancy Turkish wedding.
A year later, in that same pair, I was back in NYC (they had worn in beautifully and were even more comfortable) and I couldn’t find anything like them in the market. My friends and even strangers on the street were always asking me about them as well. So I sought out the craftsman through my friend’s grandmother, and over the course of nearly a year, a couple trips to the ancient bazaar, (and many mistakes, I did not know a thing about shoemaking), I launched Sabah utilizing this family’s traditional construction technique and skilled craftsmen, but with a more modern design, better fit, higher quality leathers and a replaceable rubber sole. We still make every pair by hand with those same craftsmen today and are actively working with them to grow the business and train additional skilled labor.
To make Sabahs, we employ a traditional method of shoe construction that has been cultivated over generations in the ancient bazaars of southeast Turkey. We work with the few remaining traditional cobblers in the region whose families have been making this style of shoe for generations. The process to make a Sabah is quite difficult and tedious (requiring extensive training and practice), but the result is a pair of shoes that are remarkably comfortable, really well made and distinct looking. Also, since we use very high quality leather for all components except the rubber outsole, Sabahs mold to your feet after a few wears and continue to gain comfort and take shape over time. And, as a testament to the quality of materials, Sabahs never, ever smell – no socks, just Sabahs, all summer, no problem.”
Sabah’s aren’t sold online. They’re made in small quantities, can be ordered to size in a multitude of colors and when they sell out, they’re gone. At least, until another batch arrives from Turkey. The only way to get your trotters into a pair is by arranging a visit to their showroom called the ‘Sabah House‘ or emailing The Dealer.
August came and we found ourselves on the subway towards the Sabah House. Jaclyn confessed a vivid dream about arriving to the Sabah House and swimming in a sea of colorful shoes (she still had not made up her mind on a color–red? blue? mint green?) but the only color in her size–white. The one color she really had no intention of buying. As we exited the subway we laughed about the fact we had become so obsessed that we were dreaming about them. Shoes!
Tucked between noodle bars and residential buildings, the Sabah House sits, low-key, harboring the goods that brought us to Koreatown. The only indication of what’s inside is the address. No signage, no neon lights, no fanfare. Just a Manhattan address.
While arranging for this trip we found that The Dealer would be out on a reconnaissance mission (aka – road trip across the States) and that we would be meeting with one of his trusted colleagues.
We were greeted at the door by Gabby, a former customer, now intern, who would act as our guide through this apartment-gone-showroom and we were quick to see that once you’re involved with Sabah’s you become part of this family, this movement.
Before getting down to business Gabby engaged us in conversation. Less business, more get to know you. Sparkling water and chocolate espresso beans flowed as she led us through the showroom, insisting that we take our time to explore the wide range of shoes by “dressing up” and getting to know the slippers themselves.
Butter. Oh, the pleasure of slipping your feet into the softest, form fitting calfskin leather. I grab a pair of oxblood red Sabahs, just for kicks, and they melt to my feet.
This red pair on Jaclyn were perfection and they would have gone home with her had it not been for the sticky note on the inside reading “sold”. She tried on several other pairs before we realize that Jaclyn’s dream had manifest. The only pair that fit her was white. Deciding to take it as a sign, they left with us.
Gabby pulled out a pair of olive colored Sabahs explaining that this pair came in with a shipment that were produced during the month of Ramadan. Now, if you’re no stranger to Ramadan you’ll know that this is a time of fasting for the Muslim world. So these craftsmen, in rural Turkish villages, were fasting from sunup to sundown, high on piety and a abstinence, making this very pair of shoes! Meaning, that while still structurally sound, they exhibit more human error than is typical of Sabahs.
SOLD.
Without trying them on I was completely infatuated with the humanity of this pair.
Despite being the sort of place in which you could kick back for hours on end, where good conversation and mellow vibes are guaranteed, this is New York City and we had just tapped the surface of our itinerary.
Decisions made, white Sabahs, olive Sabahs, high on espresso beans, we bid Gabby farewell, strolling off into the sunset… OK midday sun, towards the Brooklyn Bridge.
I wear them as a charm and in exchange they carry me safely through life. And, now i’m talking about a pair of shoes as if they were my brothers in arms… You know what? They are. To the market, on my back patio, and to the pyramids.
Onward.
Chichen Itza, Mexico
Orquideas Hostel, Cancun, Mexico
On the Manhattan High Line.
*All photos by Jaclyn Joslin unless noted
Great! Another experience to add to my travel wish list! Thank you for the beautifully written experience.
[…] The Sabah House Rules – Nicholas talks about these beautiful custom made shoes from Turkey that are so exclusive, you need an appointment to view them and IF you’re lucky, you can get them in your size. […]
I enjoyed this wonderful post about the importance of the proper footwear for the journey. Thanks for liking my post
It makes all the difference. I’ve made some terrible mistakes concerning footwear in the past… I’ve come a long way! Wen’t out on a three month trek with cheap hiking boots to have the soles worn in the first two weeks and I had to exchange them for Arabian sandals at one point! Gah, I thought my feet would never recover.
A good work man uses the best possible tools. You walk a lot in your trade, so your shoes matter a lot. Good to see traditional skills continued
Absolutely. To achieve success one must be prepared to work for it and that means utilizing the best tools within your reach 😉 We’re thrilled to be supporting Sabahs. And, I’m happy to contribute to these most ancient industries that must be revived. I see a bright future for the Middle East and a quick route would be to employ traditional labors/productions that would undoubtedly generate mass interest and passion… That’s just my opinion and I admit to being a little obsessed!
[…] The Sabah House Rules. […]
I didn’t know anything about them, though I’ve been in Istambul 3 times!!!!! thanks!
Istanbul is a wonderful city! The original slipper style can be found at some of the stalls in the Grand Bazaar and shops around the city. Though, Sabahs are only found in New York City. Thank you for reading!
You’ve done it again. An absolutely wonderful post, full of detail and good photos, and your delight, and companion shoes. Thank you.
Thank you for always supporting me. We had a great time exploring Sabahs and am very excited to see what their future brings. I’m loving this artisanal movement that’s swept our planet into this new “conscious” phase of consumerism. We nee more companies operating by Sabahs’ standards!
I can almost feel the comfiness!
Oh boy, I have to have a pair!