Saudi Arabia has a rich history of crafts.

These were not

works of art, rather the essence of daily life in the
Kingdom.

Jewelry;
Jewelry has been an essential part of Arabian dress for thousands of
years. More than just personal decoration, jewelry symbolized social
and economic status. For the migrant Bedouins, it was also an easily
transportable form of wealth and security.

Traditional jewelry was mostly made of silver, although gold was also
used. Jewelers used stones such as turquoise, garnets and amber from
the Kingdom’s rich mines, and pearls and coral from the coastal areas.
Tiny bells, coins and chains were also used for decoration. Designs
primarily evolved from Islamic calligraphy and motifs, and featured
intricate patterns of geometric shapes, leaves, crescents and flowers.

Today, Saudi women still receive gifts of jewelry from their husbands
when they marry or have children. Unlike their ancestors, who received
large amounts of bracelets, rings, earrings and necklaces as part of their
dowry, modern Saudi women wear jewelry in traditional and
contemporary designs with diamonds and a variety of precious metals.
Solid gold bracelets remain a traditional gift for girls.
Shoemaking;

Traditional shoes continue to be an important component of national

heritage, with their distinctive shape remaining largely unchanged over
the decades. Traditional shoes are also known as Zubeiriyah,
Qasimiyyah, Sharqi or Makkawyah depending on the area where they
are manufactured.

The comfortable and attractive leather Zubairi shoes, with their

different colors and designs, are sold in traditional markets to all
sections of society, whether they come from the Kingdom or Gulf
countries. They are also an ideal souvenir for foreign tourists because
they last a long time and do not lose their shape due to their high
quality.

This traditional industry has also received attention from stakeholders

interested in preserving national heritage; Najdi shoe products are
presented annually at the Janadriyah Festival for Heritage and Culture
to celebrate craftsmen who learned how to manufacture this distinctive
footwear from their ancestors.

Manufacture
Najdi shoes are made from the natural leather of sheep, cows, and
camels; they are dyed in multiple colors, usually brown, red, yellow and
black as per the customer's request. They also come in different sizes.
There are traditional hand-embroidered designs that are still popular
and made with high accuracy and craftsmanship. Modern designs with
elevated soles are popular with young men.
Not only are these shoes suitable for all ages and most occasions, they
are made without chemicals and incorporate high-quality raw materials
with a soft inner lining to provide complete comfort for the feet.

Seasonal demand
The demand for these shoes or slippers increases during the summer
and Eid seasons. These are the periods where Kharazon develop
different designs to satisfy all tastes, all by hand. The prices of these
shoes range from SR50 to more than SR1,000 depending on the quality
of the leather used and period of manufacture – it usually takes only
one day to make a pair unless they are custom made.