BUTTERWORTH: Nothing expresses a love for Hari Raya celebration quite like wearing a pair of capal (traditional footwear popularly worn by the Malay community) that are true masterpieces of craftsmanship.
At a workshop here, craftsman Azmi Jaafar, 50, turns the traditional Malay sandals into intricately hand-tooled leather pieces.
Once part of the formal attire of sultans and court officials centuries ago, today the capal is the Malay gentleman’s footwear, paired with the baju Melayu during Hari Raya, weddings or cultural events.
Azmi would first sketch the design before stamping and hammering the details into damp leather with specialised tools.
“This is fine artwork. We draw the design first and then carefully hammer the patterns into the leather.
“Everything is done by hand. No machines,” he said.
Azmi is especially talented in tooling intricate flowers, leaves, vines and woven basket patterns into his work.
Years ago, he said the capal seemed to have fallen out of fashion and, at best, he only had customers who wanted simple ones. But since last year, customers began asking for premium ones that took many days to complete.
Azmi needs detailed measurements and even photos of his customers’ feet to make sure the tooled top straps would sit just right.
For out-of-state premium orders, he even sends a sample pair for the customer to mark the perfect fit first.
Such attention to detail can lead to a pair of capal costing RM1,200, and Azmi only has time to make a few of them during the Hari Raya season.
Those with simple designs are priced between RM150 and RM350 a pair.
He hopes the younger generation will continue supporting traditional capal craftsmen like him.
“In my 30 years as a capal maker, I have had a few apprentices but none for many years now.
“I do hope to pass on my skills to a few more if possible,” he said at his workshop in Kompleks Bagan, a retail space for hawkers and small traders here.
