Full disclosure, I own quite a few pairs of Sabahs — seven to be exact. They’re handmade leather slip-on shoes that age incredibly well, are super comfortable, and just look different from everything else out there. (Although, they really need to bring back their two-tone finish from back in the day.)
If you don’t know, Sabahs are a modern take on traditional Turkish slippers. Unlike the originals (which look like something featured in Aladdin), Sabahs have a turned-down toe and shortened back (also, no woven pattern.) But they’re still handmade in Turkey — Gaziantep, to be exact — by real Turkish cobblers.
In recent years, the brand has expanded to make backless slip-on leather shoes, called Babas, and various accouterments (like leather belts and bags, even colognes). As of 2022, it has also opened a second workshop in El Paso, Texas, to handle the demands of a growing company. (Shoes not made in Turkey are marked as “Handmade in El Paso, Texas.”)
Now, it’s introducing its first pair of dress shoes — the Sabah Bolo — and they look pretty sharp.
Sabah Bolo
SabahSabah Bolo
The Bolos take Sabah’s signature silhouette and simply refines it. It adds a double-stacked heel and a cleaner edge and sole that hides any exposed side stitching. The leather is processed for 60 days — using chestnut, quebracho and other natural tannings — and then stained jet black.
