Frequently Asked Questions

About Born Outside

What is Born Outside?

Born Outside is a contemporary Italian footwear brand with a quietly rebellious attitude. Built by industry outsiders and rooted in Italian craftsmanship, the brand creates distinctive men's and women's sneakers and casual footwear, combining unexpected design details, premium materials and a fresh, global perspective.

Who founded Born Outside?

Born Outside was founded in 2023 by Alfredo Bandini and Daniele Pé, two former marketing consultants who shared a vision of creating a different kind of footwear brand. Drawing on their Italian roots and international experience, they set out to challenge conventional ideas of luxury through contemporary design and authentic Italian craftsmanship. Read more in Our Story.

Where is Born Outside based?

Born Outside is based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, with its footwear designed and manufactured in Italy. The brand combines Italian craftsmanship and manufacturing expertise with an international perspective on contemporary footwear.

Is Born Outside an Italian brand?

Yes. Born Outside is an Italian-rooted footwear brand founded by two Italian entrepreneurs and based in Dubai. Its collections are entirely made in Italy, combining Italian materials, craftsmanship and design expertise with a contemporary, global approach.

Where are Born Outside shoes made?

All Born Outside shoes are 100% Made in Italy. The brand works closely with Italian footwear manufacturers and specialists, combining traditional shoemaking expertise with contemporary techniques, innovative constructions and carefully selected materials. Discover more about our Craft.

What makes Born Outside sneakers different?

Born Outside approaches footwear design with a quietly unconventional attitude. Rather than following traditional sneaker formulas, the brand experiments with asymmetry, unexpected proportions, material combinations and distinctive sole constructions. Each design balances individuality, comfort and everyday wearability.

What types of footwear does Born Outside make?

Born Outside creates contemporary footwear for men and women, including low-top and high-profile sneakers, runners, slip-on sneakers and other casual silhouettes. Its collections feature designs such as Corso, Vibra, Tono, Echo, Bare, Livello, Tempo and the women's Ritmo range, each with its own distinctive identity.

What materials are used in Born Outside shoes?

Born Outside uses carefully selected materials, including premium Italian leather, suede and technical nylon. Materials are chosen for their texture, character, comfort and suitability for each design. Different collections explore tonal combinations, contrasting surfaces and distinctive construction techniques.

Where can I buy Born Outside shoes?

Born Outside footwear is available online at www.bornoutsideitaly.com, on Ounass, and through selected luxury department stores, boutiques and retail partners across Europe and the Middle East.

Retail partners include Harrods in London, KaDeWe in Berlin, ILLUM in Copenhagen, Harvey Nichols in Dubai and Doha, Salam in Doha, Rubaiyat in Riyadh, MODES in St. Moritz, Lorenzetti in Madonna di Campiglio, One&Only in Athens and Communite in Istanbul.

Born Outside also has a physical store in Alserkal Avenue, Dubai, where customers can discover and shop the collection in person.

For the latest retail locations and availability, visit our Stores page.

Can I buy Born Outside shoes in Dubai?

Yes. Born Outside is based in Dubai, where customers can shop the collection at the Born Outside store in Alserkal Avenue and at Harvey Nichols in Mall of the Emirates.

Born Outside footwear is also available online through www.bornoutsideitaly.com and Ounass, with free shipping and free returns.

Does Born Outside ship internationally?

Yes. Born Outside offers free worldwide shipping and free returns on orders placed through its official online store, www.bornoutsideitaly.com.

Customers in the UAE, across the GCC, Europe and other international markets can shop the collection online with complimentary delivery and returns, making Italian-made Born Outside footwear accessible worldwide. See our Shipping Policy and Returns & Refunds for details.

SHIPPING & DELIVERY 

Where do you ship?

We ship globally, free of charge.

How much does delivery cost?

Shipping is free everywhere, using standard servcies from Aramex and Quiqup in the UAE and DHL internationally.

Note: If you are buying from Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Oman you will see some charges at checkout, but these are not shipping costs, but taxes and custom duties which your country charges.

How long will take for my order to arrive?

The estimated delivery time is based on your location and selected delivery service, and will be displayed at checkout.

We offer different delivery services

UAE

  • Free next day delivery
  • 6 hours delivery option available in Dubai only for orders received before 3pm, Monday to Friday

GCC

  • Free 2-3 business days delivery.
  • Note: When ordering from within the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Qatar all additional charges such as VAT/tax and duties are included in the given price. When ordering from KSA, Bahrain and Oman the extra cost for VAT and customer duties will be included at checkout. When ordering from countries other than those stated above, all prices exclude VAT/tax and duties.

ITALY, AND UK

  • Free 4-5 business days delivery.
  • Note: VAT and custom duties included. Customer will not have to pay for any additional costs.

REST OF THE WORLD

  • Free 4-5 business days delivery. VAT and custom duties are not included and the customer will need to pay them at delivery. More details in the VAT section below.

Once your order is dispatched from our warehouse in Dubai, you will receive email confirmation with your tracking number and a more exact delivery date. Our warehouse only operates during business hours, Monday to Friday

Please note that during busy periods (e.g. sale), deliveries may take a little longer than usual.

Occasionally, tech system updates or unforeseeable events, such as extreme weather conditions, may temporarily affect our delivery services, resulting in changes to our dispatch/delivery times. We will, however, always work hard to minimize these changes as much as possible.

How can I track my order?

Once your order is dispatched from our warehouse, you will receive email confirmation with your tracking number. If you haven’t received an email, we suggest checking your spam filter.
You can also track your order from your account page in our website: www.bornoutsideitaly.com

If you’re still unable to find your shipping confirmation email, please contact our Customer Service team via any of the following channels, available Monday to Saturday from 9AM-6PM UAE time.

Our current response time is around 24 hours

I haven't received my order, what should I do?

If you haven’t received your order within the expected delivery time, please contact our Customer Support Team within 30 days* from the date the order was placed. *After this 30-day period, we are not able to claim any lost orders.

Which countries do you ship to as DDP (Delivery Duty Paid)?

We currently ship DDP (Delivery Duty Paid) to all GCC countries, Italy and UK.

If you are buying from Bahrain, Saudi, and Oman you will see some extra charges at checkout (local taxes and custom duties) which we collect in advance. No other charges will need to be paid at delivery.

All other locations are shipped to on a DDU (Delivery Duty Unpaid) basis, which means that at delivery you might need to pay for local taxes and custom duties

Do you sell offline? Can I find Born Oustide Italy products in any store?

You can find us across key leading luxury retailers in the GCC

  • Harvey Nichols Dubai, Mall of The Emirates
  • Harvey Nichols Doha, Doha Festival City
  • Harvey Nichols Kuwait, Grand Avenue - The Avenues Mall
  • Harvey Nichols Riyadh, King Fahd Road Al Faisaliah Mall
  • SVD shop in Dubai, Building 7, Dubai Design District.

You can find us also online in the largest GCC e-commerce portal https://www.ounass.ae/

 

RETURNS AND REFUND

What is your return policy?

Products purchased through the site may be returned free of charge, within fourteen (14) days from the delivery date.

The Products must be returned with the following conditions: (I) unworn (ii) in their original condition with all tags still attached; (iii) in their original packaging; (iv) complete with all of their parts and accessories.
We will refund the purchase price of the returned product(s), sales tax included, less the original shipping costs, to the same payment method used to make the original purchase.
Refund will be issued within 10 business days from the date of receival of the returned item(s) in our warehouse

How do I return my order?

You can process your free return in just a few clicks. Please follow the steps below:

UAE

  • Fill in your returns form through the link in your account page (https://bornoutsideitaly.com/a/return?)
  • You will receive a call back from our logistic team to schedule a pick-up, this will take 3-4 days 
  • The courier will come collect your return at the indicated time (please make sure you are available),
  • Once the package received our warehouse, your return will be processed within 5 business days. We will notify you by email as soon as we have issued your refund. The refund will be reflected on your bank statement within 10 business days

ANY OTHER COUNTRY

  • Fill in your returns form through the link in your account page
  • Place the prepaid return label on the package
  • Schedule a return through DHL website, choosing the date and time that suits you better: https://mydhl.express.dhl/ae/en/schedule-pickup.html?dashboardPickup=true#/schedule-pickup#label-reference. Note: you will be asked to input the waybill number that is stated on the return label
  • DHL will come collect your return at the indicated time (please make sure you are available),
  • Once the package received our warehouse, your return will be processed within 5 business days. We will notify you by email as soon as we have issued your refund. The refund will be reflected on your bank statement within 10 business days

Can I exchange items online?

We currently offer only exchanges of sizes. 

This can be done withing 5 days from the day of purchase.

Critical for the products to be returned with the following conditions: (I) unworn (ii) in their original condition with all tags still attached; (iii) in their original packaging; (iv) complete with all of their parts and accessories.

Unfortunately no color or model exchange are allowed at this stage.

To make an exchange, kindly contact our customer service team and they’ll gladly help you with the process.

  • WhatsApp: +971 58 534 9058
  • E-mail: ciao@bornoutsideitaly.com

 

PAYMENTS

What are the payment methods accepted?

We accept all most common payment methods

  • Credit/Debit Card: We currently accept Visa and Mastercard credit cards. We do not accept American Express
  • Payment wallet: We accept Apple Pay, PayPal, Mada, and UrPay
  • Buy now pay later: We accept Tabby and Tamara
  • Cash and cards on delivery (in the UAE only)

Unfortunately at this stage we are not able to accept cash on delivery in other countries outside of the UAE, but we are working on it

Is your payment secure? Can I trust it?

We can only accept payments via 3D Secure (Verified by VISA/Mastercard SecureCode). This payment method is 100% secure and guarantees that the person using the card is the cardholder by putting the customer in direct contact with the bank to verify their purchase. If you have any questions regarding 3D Secure, please contact your bank.

Why my payment didn't go through?

If your payment did not go through and/or you received a notification that your credit or debit card has been declined, please contact your issuing bank or payment provider. Possible reasons for declined payments are invalid payment method, incorrect billing details or bank issues. We advise you to try another card/payment method or contact your bank.

Are VAT and taxes included in the given prices?

When ordering from within the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Italy and UK all additional charges such as VAT/tax and duties are included in the given price.

When ordering from KSA, Bahrain and Oman VAT and customer duties will be included at checkout. 

When ordering from countries other than those stated above, all prices exclude VAT/tax and duties. Price also excludes costs for physical inspection at customs in countries where this is required.

How much tax and duty will I have to pay?

Unfortunately, we cannot estimate how much tax and duties you will pay as this is regulated by each country. Your local customs authority should be able to estimate the cost.

Note: this applies only to countries other than United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, KSA, Bahrain, Oman, Italy and UK

Can i claim tax back or a customers refund on a puchase made online?

Unfortunately not – tax on purchases made at our online store cannot be recovered through the VAT Retail Export Scheme.

 

PRODUCTS AND SIZES

How do I find the right size?

We have been told that our Origin runs true to size while our Arc runs a bit smaller, so if you are in-between sizes, we would suggest you order a larger size.

Yet, to double-check that you’re ordering the correct size, use the size guide on each of the product pages, by clicking on the button VIEW SIZE GUIDE and checking our sizes against your foot length measure. If you’re still unsure about your size, please contact our Customer Support Team.

Are your product unisex?

All of our sneakers are unisex

What are Born Outside sneakers made of?

We meticulously select materials that stand for quality and responsibility, with the objective to create a feeling that is luxurious but also effortless, like walking on the red carpet, but with a sleeper.

To do that, we have chosen only premium leathers, known for their suppleness, durability, and classic aesthetic. We are proud of these leathers as we believe they tell a story of Italian craftsmanship where every grain tells a story of tradition and precision.

For the suede, we sought out the softest yet most resilient variety, ensuring that the sneaker not only looks refined but also withstands the test of time and wear.

The proprietary sole is made of thermoplastic rubber, a material that unsure both durability and lightweight.

Where are Born Outside sneakers made?

Our Sneakers are 100% made in Italy

Are Born Outside sneakers sustainable?

At Born Outside, we understand that launching a brand in today's world comes with a responsibility to our planet that goes beyond mere conversation. Our commitment to sustainability is woven into every decision we make, from design to delivery.

Our philosophy is simple: act, don't just speak. That's why we focus on crafting products that last, that defy the throwaway culture of fashion. We believe in the power of durability and the conscious choice to avoid overproduction. Embracing the '80/20' rule, we prioritize impactful actions over trends, because we know that every choice we make is a step towards a more sustainable future.

In our high-level plan, we aim for longevity in luxury. Our premium materials are chosen not just for their inherent beauty and quality, but for their durability, reducing the need to replace them often. When it comes to packaging we are reducing waste by selecting eco-friendly materials and minimizing unnecessary packaging, ensuring that when you receive a product from us, it's presented with intention and care.

Looking towards the future, our journey towards sustainability includes a gradual shift, where quality and durability will hold same or superior, towards more sustainable materials, with aspirations for B-Corp certification, and building repair and second-hand programs into our brand to ensure that our products live on even in their second life.

How do I take care of by new Born Outside sneakers?

For regular upkeep, a gentle wipe with a damp cloth can keep the leather clear of dust and everyday debris. Leather conditioner should be used sparingly to nourish the material and prevent it from drying out or cracking over time.

The suede, calls for a gentler approach. A specialized suede brush can revitalize its natural velvety nap, maintaining the suede's lush appearance. It's important to handle suede with care, avoiding water exposure which can leave permanent marks. In the event of getting wet, the suede should be allowed to dry naturally, away from direct heat, to prevent any alteration to its texture.

Both the leather and suede should be protected from the three main elements that can compromise their integrity: excess moisture, direct sunlight or heat, and harsh cleaning agents.

When not in use, storing the sneaker in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight will preserve the materials' colours and shapes. A shoe tree or shoe shapers are recommended to retain the structure of the shoes and wick away any residual moisture, ensuring that each time is worn, it feels and looks as though it's the first.


CUSTOMER SERVICE

How do I get in contact with your customer service team?

You can contact our Customer Service team via any of the following channels, available Monday to Saturday from 9AM-6PM UAE time.

Our current response time is around 24 hours.