Our Story

Shandals® were originally designed by our founder - Designer:Shoemaker Alan James Raddon in 1992.

The idea came to him while he was trying to help a client straighten out her bunions. Alan then spent many years carefully developing several prototypes until he decided on 3 core designs - Lace up, Slip on and Buckle. Shandals® are a style of footwear designed to guide a bunion straight and help strengthen the toes.

Alan was largely self taught. He had gone to Art college himself and went on to be a successful Art director in London, working for the advertising agencies SH Benson, Garland Compton, Richard Cope and CDP. In 1971 he took a year-long sabbatical to study macrobiotic cooking in the US, then returning to become an Art Director with the BBDO agency.

Whilst working freelance, he decided to explore his interests in alternative therapies and lifestyles by moving to Aberystwyth, West Wales. There he was a founding member of ‘The Friendly Stores’, the first Wholefood shop in Wales.

In 1976 Alan started to make rope soled footwear with vegetarians in mind, and with the mission of creating what he called “feet-shaped shoes”. Later he moved on to using leather because of its lifelong repairability. In 1992 ‘Shandals®’ were born.

Alan’s deep rooted philosophy of Shoemaking stems from his belief in making shoes that are designed around the natural shape of your feet. He began making Shoes in the 70’s which evolved from his Rope Soled Footwear which he started making in 1976. Alan then launched the Lace up design at the Shoe & Sock Awards, run by The Chiropodists Society.

Alan also began training as a reflexologist under the tutelage of Doreen Bayly, founder of the first reflexology training school to be established in the UK. Learning about the feet reinforced his belief of strengthening and healing of the feet through wearing comfortable, well fitting footwear, made to the natural shape of your feet, designed to last for many years and to be repairable. His first shoes were called ‘Nature Form’ shoes. 

Throughout his career of 45 years - Alan made Shoes and Shandals® for customers all over the world. His varied clientele included Billy Connolly, Sir Alec Guinness, Diana Athill and Emma Thompson. Working from his quaint workshop at home by the sea in Aberarth, he advertised his Shoes in magazines such as the Oldie, gathering clients far and wide.

When Alan reached his early 60s he decided in the absence of any direct beneficiaries to take on an Apprentice. So in 2005 Alan took on Ruth Emily Davey who has spent 15 years continuing Alan’s work. Ruth went on to win several awards for her shoes and runs her own bespoke shoe shop from Machynlleth, Wales alongside The Original Shandals® Co.

In 2019 Alan and Ruth discovered their Shandals® designs had been copied by Chinese manufactures and so to counteract this, together they founded The Original Shandals® Co. as a joint partnership to make off the shelf ranges of Shandals® and shoes together with their bespoke work. 

Sadly Alan passed away in 2021 but he leaves behind an enormous legacy and his remaining signed and dated collection of 40+ Shandals®/Rope soled slippers all using beautiful fabrics. They are exceptionally rare and will continue to be added to our shop soon. Agile to the end, Alan practised tai chi, danced at every opportunity, and lived and loved life to the full. Never interested in retirement, he was still making shoes until the day before he died.

At the Original Shandals® Co. we will be continuing his unique legacy by making his Shandals® for people from all walks of life. Alan lives on through our work which we will continue to pass to the next generation of Shoemakers to come.