So…who are Sandos?

We’re Amy and Kate — two flip flop loving girls who swapped city life for slower days on the coast.

Four years ago, both our families packed up city lives and moved to the Coromandel —more by coincidence than some perfectly planned life pivot. One thing led to another, the cosmos kind of conspired, and suddenly we found ourselves living the slower, more grounded lifestyle we’d been craving.

More beach walks, less traffic. Morning yoga and surfs before work. Matcha catch-ups where two very Type-B creative personalities end up dreaming up new ideas for hours.
Salty hair and raising barefoot beach kids. 
Somewhere between all of that, Sandos was born.

Not from a business plan, but from the need to solve a wardrobe shortcoming : we could never find flip flops, jandals, we actually loved or wanted to wear. Everything felt either too surf-shop basic, too sporty, too chunky, or just not very considered. We wanted something cooler. More directional. More comfortable. Something you could throw on after the beach or wear out to dinner without thinking twice.

So somewhere between beach walks and matcha catch-ups, Sandos started to take shape.

Q&A WITH US

WHAT MAKES SANDOS DIFFERENT? 

Sandos strike the balance we were always looking for — easy, feminine, and quietly cool. We wanted to create a flip flop that felt elevated/considered/directional without trying too hard. Something minimal, timeless, and easy to wear every single day with every outfit.

Our design philosophy is simple:
+ Thoughtfully designed rather than overdone
+ comfort without compromise
+ fashion-led, but still practical
+ premium, considered materials that feel good on your feet and tread lightly on the planet
+ styles you keep reaching for without thinking - on repeat.

WHY FLIP FLOPS?

Because we genuinely live in them and love the way they pair with whatever we’re
wearing. We’ve always been flip flop girls. The pair by the front door. The pair in the beach bag. The pair permanently in the car. And we love that they’re making a comeback in the fashion world. There’s something effortless and feminine about a simple flip flop.
They feel lighter, cooler, and more relaxed than heavy, chunky footwear.

WHAT INSPIRED THE DESIGN DIRECTION? WHO IS THE SANDOS GIRL?

We’re inspired by travel, fashion, natural materials and textures, coastal living;
women who always look put together without looking like they tried too hard. The
Sandos girl cares about style, but she’s understated about it. She chooses quality
over excess. She lives in boxy tees, oversized knits, vintage denim, swimwear, relaxed
tailoring, and pieces that work from beach to bar. She’s thoughtful about what she buys.
She wants things to last. She values comfort just as much as aesthetics. That’s exactly
how we approach Sandos.

WHAT DOES “WHEREVER THE DAY TAKES YOU” MEAN?

It’s really just how we live. Some days start with a surf and end with dinner out. Some
days are spent barefoot at the beach. Others are road trips, market mornings, airport
transits, coffee dates, or chasing kids around. We wanted Sandos to feel versatile
enough for all of it. Easy to throw on. Easy to style. Easy to live in. The thing you
always feel good in. No overthinking required.

WHAT DOES “CONSIDERED DESIGN” MEAN TO SANDOS — AND WHY WAS CREATING A MORE THOUGHTFUL, SUSTAINABLE FLIP FLOP SO IMPORTANT?

There wouldn’t be a Sandos without this part of the story. From the very beginning,
creating footwear as responsibly and thoughtfully as possible was a non-negotiable for us. Sustainability wasn’t something we added in later because it sounded good — it was one of the main inspirations for creating the brand in the first place. We knew if we were going to create a product we truly loved and wanted to wear every day it also had to be something that aligned with our values from start to finish.

We wanted to create flip flops that felt genuinely better in every sense — better design, better comfort, better materials, and a lighter footprint wherever possible. We believe beautiful things should be made with care and consciousness. We know no production process is completely impact-free, but from the beginning we’ve been committed to making choices that feel more thoughtful, responsible, and aligned with the kind of world we want to live in. That’s why partnering with our manufacturing team in Sri Lanka felt so important. They shared our values around ethical production, responsible sourcing, and craftsmanship — especially their use of FSC-certified natural rubber.

For us, using FSC-certified natural rubber wasn’t just about sustainability credentials. It meant working with a renewable material that’s responsibly harvested while adhering to strict environmental and ethical standards that help protect forests, ecosystems, workers, and local communities. The FSC certification guarantees the rubber is responsibly cultivated, processed, and distributed with care — supporting biodiversity, fair wages, safe working conditions, and long-term sustainable harvesting practices.

It was important to us that every step of the process felt considered — from the materials under your feet to the people making them. We also love natural rubber for the way it feels. It’s softer, more comfortable, and has a premium look and finish that synthetic materials just don’t replicate in the same way. At the end of the day, we wanted to create a product we could feel deeply proud of — not just because they’re the most epic flip flops around, but because every part of the process was approached with intention, care, and consciousness. Because good design should feel good in every way.

SO WHAT’S NEXT FOR SANDOS?

More considered styles.
More elevated essentials.
More effortless everyday footwear.
We’re building Sandos slowly and intentionally — creating easy go-to pieces you somehow can’t live without.

We’re so happy you’re here for the journey

Amy + Kate x