Our story
Made slowly.
Lived in fully.
Mombasa · London · Since 2002
A small collection
with a long life.
laidback london began with a suitcase, a journey between two homes, and a belief that the things we wear should carry the trace of the people who made them.
We create artisan-made footwear with character: natural materials, traditional handwork and easy silhouettes designed to be worn, weathered and loved for years.
01 · The beginning
Two places,
one point of view.
In 2001, fresh from university, founder Mohamed Gulamhusein was moving between London and his hometown of Mombasa on Kenya’s coast. He began bringing back small collections of locally made objects in his luggage and selling them at London markets.
What started as an instinct became a clear idea: preserve the character of traditional craft, work directly with skilled makers and create products that feel relevant far beyond a single season.
“I wanted each piece to feel human — not perfect, but full of the small details that tell you someone made it.”
02 · Made by hand
The hand is
part of the design.
Cutting, beading, crochet, embroidery and finishing are done in small workshops by people whose knowledge has been built over years. Variations are not hidden; they are part of what makes each pair individual.
03 · Natural character
Better with
every journey.
We favour tactile, natural materials chosen for the way they soften, develop a patina and become more personal with wear.
- 01 Soft suede and leather
- 02 Warm natural sheepskin
- 03 Hand-worked thread and beadwork
- 04 Durable, repair-minded construction
04 · People before product
Made together.
Our relationships with makers are the foundation of laidback london. We work in small runs and build collections through ongoing collaboration rather than anonymous production.
For us, responsible making begins with respect: for skill, for time, for materials and for the people behind every pair.
Then, now and next
Still laidback.
Still made to last.
More than two decades later, the collection has grown from Kenyan leather sandals to year-round footwear made with specialist makers in Kenya and India. The approach remains the same: timeless shape, tactile detail and a little soul in every pair.
2002
Our first pair of sandals is sold at Portobello Road Market in London.
2004
We take the collection to New York, earn a feature in The New York Sun and the line is picked up by more than 30 independent US boutiques.
2008
laidback london launches in Europe and is soon stocked by some of the world’s most respected retailers, including United Arrows and BAYCREW’S in Japan, Le Bon Marché and Le66 in Paris, and Harvey Nichols in London.
2014
Our first winter collection launches, bringing the same focus on natural materials and traditional craftsmanship to colder seasons. Today, the collection is handmade in India.
2016
Our summer collection is featured at Paris Fashion Week, and Beyoncé is spotted in Portofino wearing our SERI Tribal sandals.
2020
First introduced in 2014, SETSU evolves into its signature form: a double-zip suede ankle boot finished with distinctive hand-crochet stitching.
Today
laidback london is worn worldwide and stocked by leading independent boutiques and department stores.
