Undandy

Undandy
Online Website Store

Update 15-Dec-2023: TL;DR - Undandy has seemingly ceased operations and / or gone bankrupt. They owe worldwide customers nearly 2 years worth of unfulfilled orders and refunds. Angry public feedback on multiple channels. Undandy customer service email addresses are offline, but their website is still live. Buyer Beware.

On 25-July-2022, I placed an order for 3 pairs of customised shoes from Undandy. As of 15-December-2023, I have neither received the order, nor received any refund of the SGD $612 I paid. Following 15 email chasers across the last 1.5 years, they replied up till 03-June-2023, and since then have been silent. Now, we've discovered their customer service email addresses are offline and have been de-registered.

However, their website and social media channels are still live, and it's technically still possible to make purchases, so buyer beware - you're highly unlikely to receive your order or any refund. I understand some banks have already begun to block payments to Undandy. It also seems Undandy employees were unfairly treated and released, with some being owed salaries. The online community of Undandy customers are livid, but there appears to be little recourse.

I still have 5 pairs of Undandy shoes from earlier purchases, and they are some of the best fashion footwear I own... a real pity it's come to this.

https://www.undandy.com/

15 By Faria (USD $198 / SGD $269)

Dandy Hand-Crafted Men's Shoes

(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 8
Product Lifespan: 12 - 36 Months
Product Quality: 9
Value for Money: 8
Spent about SGD $302 per pair of shoes / SGD $75 per belt.

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Founded in September 2015 by Portuguese entrepreneurs Gonçalo Henriques and Rafic Daud as an online fashion retail store for men's shoes and belts, Undandy has quickly gained international appeal for its hand-crafted, fashion-forward, customisable footwear, value for money prices, and speed of design to delivery. As a name, Undandy has 2 meanings; first, to deny the obvious, that personalised shoes are expensive and take months to craft; second, it alludes to a dandy way of life, to be refined, stylish, and excellent.

With Undandy, their website is clean, minimalist, and simple. They have 3 basic formal shoe designs, the classic puff toe '48, the cozy round toe '31, and the bold claw toe '15. They also offer 2 basic sneaker designs, the smooth round toe '92, and the vintage round toe '68. However, everything about the shoe is customisable, from the stitching pattern, to the colour (with over 50 colours to choose from), to the type of material. All told, Undandy offers more than 156,000 million combinations, allowing personalisation of your footwear as you wish. Despite the vast range of options, customising is easily done, as everything on the website is visual-based. For those who want ease and convenience, they also have a range of pre-designed, off-the-shelf footwear that is ready for ordering.

Once you've completed designing your shoes and placed the order, Portuguese artisans in São João Da Madeira, Norte region, Portugal, begin the 2-week process of hand crafting the footwear, after which, it takes another 1-week for it to arrive (in Singapore). I notice they use the 'Blake Stitch' construction method, which means the outer sole is glued to the inner sole, then stitched directly together, allowing the sole to hold strong yet enable maximum flexibility when you walk. Undandy is, without a doubt, bespoke through and through, with their footwear being more than just shoes, but a customer-partnered work of art.

With proper shoe care, a pair of Undandy shoes, or an Undandy belt, can have a lifespan and durability of between 12 - 36 months. Being hand made in Portugal, expect prices around SGD $302 per pair of shoes, and around SGD $75 per belt. Slightly more expensive than elsewhere in Southeast Asia, but the quality and value for money is worth it. Their shoes are elegant, stylish, fashionable, colourful, well-constructed with a comfortable fit for me, and decently priced. I'm very pleased with the designs I have, and look forward to getting more pairs of made-to-order shoes from the Undandy brand. Get started designing your own shoes here.

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Undandy Logo

Undandy Logo

Undandy Quote

Undandy Quote

They have their own range of Undandy Belts (SGD $75 per belt) to accessorise, expertly hand made in either supple calf leather, soft suede and canvas leather, or glossy patent leather material. Medium heavy buckles, in either gunmetal brass or silver, with a sleek and slim design, complete the look.

Undandy Belts (SGD $75 per belt)

The Undandy Socks (SGD $Complimentary) are not for sale, but instead, given as a complimentary gift upon purchase of a pre-determined amount. Feels soft and luxurious to the touch.

Undandy Socks (SGD $Complimentary)

The Shoe Care Kit (SGD $62) is an essential maintenance kit, packed with 1 each of these items; horsehair brush, small dauber brush, soft polishing cloth rag, neutral shoe wax, neutral shoe polish, and a storage pouch. It's recommended to care for your shoes once a month, and alternate wearing them to allow them to rest, thus prolonging their lifespan.

Shoe Care Kit (SGD $62)

Shoe Care Guide

Shoe Dust Bag

Very happy with the Return Policy, which allows for an exchange or return within 28 days, if the size doesn't exactly fit. All items need to be returned in the original packaging, and only off-the-shelf and non-customised shoes and belts can be returned or exchanged. For special customised orders, there is no return or exchange applicable. As such, if you want to customise an item, make sure you know your size beforehand.

Return Policy

Set

Set

The 15 By Arthur (USD $198 / SGD $269) is a ready-made, off-the-shelf shoe design. It features a bold claw toe '15 shoe cut, a derby model design, black rubber soles with a gentlemen's cut on the heel, and a whole cut decoration. The upper and counter is finished in dark blue colour glossy patent leather, the quarter is finished in dark blue colour soft suede and canvas leather; while the stitching and laces are also in dark blue colour. Comfortable fit, sophisticated stylish.

Official description: "The overall shine of these dark blue shoes is dimmed by a carefully crafted suede midsection, and brightened again with the matching laces and meticulous stitching. The final result is a flamboyant, yet balanced melody that brings Gershwin's “Rhapsody in Blue” to our ears. With a classic fit and elegant long vamp, our '15's last will add just the right amount of Italian flair to your look."

15 By Arthur (USD $198 / SGD $269)

15 By Arthur

15 By Arthur

The 48 By Enzo (USD $253 / SGD $343.70) is a ready-made, off-the-shelf shoe design. It features a classic puff toe '48 shoe cut, a monk strap model design, black rubber soles with a gentlemen's cut on the heel, and a cap toe decoration. Finished with a 2 tone bordeaux red colour in patina, lending an aged and charmingly weathered feel to the supple calf leather. Comfortable fit, strikingly stylish.

Official description: "If that fascinating history professor you had in college were a pair of shoes, they would be the '48 by Enzo, and all the girls would still be crushing on him. The Patina effect on this shoe is hand painted for an utterly authentic feel. The shoe to wear to your college reunion or any social get together. Designed to be a classic puff toe last with a contemporary twist, they are equally at ease in the boardroom as they are on a night out, you simply can't go wrong with our '48's."

48 By Enzo (USD $253 / SGD $343.70)

48 By Enzo

The 15 By Faria (USD $198 / SGD $269) is a ready-made, off-the-shelf shoe design. It features a bold claw toe '15 shoe cut, an oxford model design, black rubber soles with a gentlemen's cut on the heel, and a cap toe decoration. The toe cap and quarter is finished in rough pine green colour, the vamp is finished in desert sand colour, all in supple calf leather; while the stitching is light brown colour, with beige colour laces. Comfortable fit, strikingly memorable.

Official description: "The pioneering Catholic monk Abbe Faria studied the science of hypnotism. Be careful not to get too hypnotised by the mesmerising '15 by Faria. A cap toe Oxford, handcrafted with rough green and desert sand calf leather, finished with light brown stitching. With a classic fit and elegant long vamp, our '15's last will add just the right amount of Italian flair to your look."

15 By Faria (USD $198 / SGD $269)

15 By Faria

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Update Dec-2018: Received a 2018 Christmas gift from Undandy, a Shoehorn (SGD $Complimentary) made of calf leather. Due to the material, this shoehorn is stiff, but still slightly flexible, unlike other versions made from plastic or metal. Also amused by the pun they threw in.

Shoehorn (SGD $Complimentary)

Shoehorn Pun

Also received a Shoe Brush (SGD $Complimentary), which has soft horsehair in a wooden brush handle.

Shoe Brush (SGD $Complimentary)

Customised a pair of shoes I named Overwatch Widowmaker (USD $221 / SGD $300), inspired by the video game character of the same name. It features a bold claw toe '15 shoe cut, a derby model design, black rubber soles with a gentlemen's cut on the heel, and a half brogue decoration. The toe cap and quarter is finished in raisin purple colour, the vamp and counter is finished in dark blue colour, all in patent leather; while the stitching is in yellow colour, with grey colour laces. "Personne n'échappe à mon regard".

Overwatch Widowmaker (USD $221 / SGD $300)

Overwatch Widowmaker

Overwatch Widowmaker

Overwatch Widowmaker, Credits: Quirkilicious Ultimate Series

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Update Mar-2020: Another new set of Undandy shoes. Supply chains worldwide were heavily disrupted by overdemand, then the holiday season, then the COVID-19 global lockdown. So these pairs which I ordered back in November 2019 were only received 4 months later.

Customised a pair of shoes I named Overwatch McCree (USD $213 / SGD $304), inspired by the video game character of the same name. It features a bold claw toe '15 shoe cut, a monk strap boot model design, black rubber soles with a gentlemen's cut on the heel, and a half brogue decoration. The toe cap and quarter is finished in hickory brown colour, the vamp and backstay is finished in apple red colour, all in calf leather; while the stitching is in white colour. "It's high noon".

Overwatch McCree (USD $213 / SGD $304)

Overwatch McCree

Overwatch McCree

Overwatch McCree, Credits: Quirkilicious Ultimate Series

Customised a pair of shoes I named Overwatch Bastion (USD $203 / SGD $290), inspired by the video game character of the same name. It features a bold claw toe '15 shoe cut, a derby model design, black rubber soles with a gentlemen's cut on the heel, and a half brogue decoration. The toe cap and counter is finished in basil green colour, the vamp is finished in desert sand colour, the quarter is finished in pecan brown colour, all in suede and canvas; while the stitching is in beige colour, with light brown colour laces. "Woo woo woo whee woo whee".

Overwatch Bastion (USD $203 / SGD $290)

Overwatch Bastion

Overwatch Bastion

Overwatch Bastion, Credits: Quirkilicious Ultimate Series

Customised a pair of shoes I named Overwatch Tracer (USD $203 / SGD $290), inspired by the video game character of the same name. It features a bold claw toe '15 shoe cut, a derby model design, black rubber soles with a gentlemen's cut on the heel, and a half brogue decoration. The toe cap and quarter is finished in wheat yellow colour with suede and canvas, the vamp and counter is finished in cognac brown colour with calf leather; while the stitching is in orange colour, with blue colour laces. "Wait for it...".