Dozens of handcrafted traditional leather slippers known as Balgha (البُلغة) or Markoub, displayed in rows at a shop on Al-Muizz Street, Cairo. The Balgha is a heelless leather slipper with deep roots in Egyptian history, introduced during the Fatimid era and historically associated with rural communities and craftsmen. The city of Faqous has long been known for its production of this traditional footwear, and recent youth-led initiatives have worked to revive the craft in Egyptian markets.