United Nude
United Nude (ALAGUNA B.V.) is a Dutch designer footwear brand founded by Rem D. Koolhaas, selling architectural sculptural shoes and accessories direct-to-consumer via EU and US e-commerce and retail, with a recurring limited-edition program featuring Zaha Hadid, Issey Miyake, and Iris van Herpen collaborations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersCalifornia, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What United Nude does
United Nude, operating under the legal entity ALAGUNA B.V., is a Dutch designer footwear brand founded and led by Rem D. Koolhaas and headquartered in Amsterdam. The company designs and sells architectural, sculptural shoes across sandals, sneakers, heels, boots, booties, and flats, priced between approximately €120 and €910 per pair. Its product architecture includes a proprietary glue-less construction technology branded as KHOLA™, which underpins an in-house modular configurator concept and is positioned as a platform for more durable, customizable footwear. Beyond core footwear, the assortment extends into accessories including bags, apparel, jewelry, watches, and designer eyewear collaborations.
The business model is direct-to-consumer, with the company operating dedicated e-commerce storefronts for the EU (unitednude.eu) and the US (unitednude.com), supplemented by physical retail stores. Revenue is generated through one-time product sales, with Klarna and Shop Pay installments offered as payment options at checkout. The customer base is split across Women, Men, Unisex, and Vegan/conscious-consumer segments, with Limited Edition and collector-coded SKUs (such as the Iris van Herpen “Sonic Starquakes” FW26 collaboration and the archival EQ Sandal reissue) addressing a high-spend secondary segment.
A defining feature of the operating model is a recurring limited-edition collaboration program with named architects and designers, including Zaha Hadid (archive/core), Issey Miyake (core), Iris van Herpen (Flagship), Anrealage, Charlie Koolhaas, Bao Tranchi, DESU, Jorge Ayala, Taja Riley, Janelle Miller, Shaun Ross, and Linda Farrow. United Nude is a privately held, founder-led company with no disclosed external funding rounds in the available input, suggesting a self-funded, niche-scale P&L rather than a venture-backed growth profile.
United Nude firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- United Nude
- Legal name
- ALAGUNA B.V.
- Website
- https://unitednude.eu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- United Nude (ALAGUNA B.V.) is a Dutch designer footwear brand founded by Rem D. Koolhaas, selling architectural sculptural shoes and accessories direct-to-consumer via EU and US e-commerce and retail, with a recurring limited-edition program featuring Zaha Hadid, Issey Miyake, and Iris van Herpen collaborations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
United Nude industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Designer Footwear
- NAICS
- Shoe Retailers (45821), Footwear Manufacturing (3162)
- SIC
- Retail-Shoe Stores (5661), Footwear, (No Rubber) (3140)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Luxury & Designer Footwear (CRAAACAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Luxury & Designer Footwear Retail (CRAAADAH), Sustainable & Eco-Friendly Footwear (CRAAACAH)
Keywords
Where United Nude is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- California
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
United Nude business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Product Sales: Direct sales of footwear, accessories, and apparel through e-commerce and retail stores. Products include sandals, sneakers, heels, boots, booties, flats, and limited edition designer collaborations. Price points range from approximately €120 to €910.
- Gift Cards: E-gift card sales providing customers with flexible gifting options
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard footwear and accessory pricing |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Limited Edition / Designer Collaborations |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Sale/Discounted Items |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels9 records
United Nude product offering
Product offeringCore offering
United Nude designs, manufactures, and sells architecturally inspired footwear and accessories for women, men, and unisex wearers through its own e-commerce platforms and physical retail stores. The assortment includes sandals, sneakers, flats, heels, boots, and booties organized into signature collections (Delta, Mobius, Loop, Boulder, Zuma, KHOLA), alongside seasonal lines, vegan options, and limited-edition collaborations with renowned designers such as Zaha Hadid, Iris van Herpen, and Issey Miyake.
Product overview
United Nude is a footwear design company offering a diverse portfolio of architecturally-inspired shoes for women, men, and unisex wearers. The core product line includes high heels, sandals, sneakers, boots, flats, and booties across multiple sub-collections such as Delta, Mobius, Loop, Boulder, and Zuma. Notable products include the limited-edition EQ Sandal (a brutalist platform design 20 years in the making) and the innovative KHOLA™ glue-less shoe technology. The brand collaborates with renowned designers including Zaha Hadid, Iris van Herpen, Issey Miyake, and others on limited edition archival collaborations. Product portfolio spans fashion-forward footwear (Reinvented Classics, Dream-Tech Summer, Platform Theory collections) alongside accessories (bags, apparel, jewelry). Pricing ranges from €120 to €910 for specialty items, with seasonal sales offering up to 60% discounts.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- KHOLA: Glue-less shoe technology collection, described as 'the glue-less shoe of the future'
- EQ Sandal
Products and services
- EQ Sandal Limited edition brutalist platform heel with lo-tech hi-fi nostalgia design aesthetic; a high-tech tribute to audio culture featuring a unique sculptural form; targeted at collectors and fashion-forward consumers.
- KHOLA™ Collection Glue-less shoe technology marketed as 'the glue-less shoe of the future'; offers customizable designs via the khola.la configurator and includes the KHOLA Original line for men.
- Women's Footwear Collection Women's footwear line including sandals, sneakers, flats, high heels, mid heels, boots, and booties; features trending collections like Dream-Tech Summer, Platform Theory, Reinvented Classics, and Limited Edition styles.
- Men's Footwear Collection Men's footwear including sneakers, boots, slip-ons and loafers, heels, and sandals; includes the KHOLA Original line.
- Unisex Collection Gender-neutral shoe styles available to all customers, including the Poly Straps Lo Unisex and other gender-fluid designs.
- Vegan Styles Collection Plant-based and animal-free shoe options for vegan and cruelty-free consumers.
- Limited Edition Collection Exclusive, numbered shoe designs with limited availability; includes the EQ Sandal and high-profile designer collaborations with Iris van Herpen, Zaha Hadid, Issey Miyake, and others.
- Delta Collection Shoe collection featuring distinctive delta-inspired wedge and run styles, including Delta Wedge Sandal, Delta Run, Delta Run Wedge, and Delta Tong.
- Mobius Collection Shoe collection featuring strap-based designs in mid and lo heights, including Mobius Straps Mid and Mobius Mid styles.
- Loop Collection Shoe collection featuring distinctive loop-toe designs, including Loop Toe Hi, Loop Toe Lo, Loop Lo II, and Loop Lo Cube Ring styles.
- Boulder Collection Shoe collection featuring bold, sculptural sandal designs, including Boulder Sandal and Boulder Bondage styles.
- Zuma Collection Shoe collection featuring strappy and way-style designs in various heel heights, including Zuma Strappy Hi and Zuma Way Mid.
- Accessories Collection Accessory products including bags and backpacks, apparel, and jewelry and watches, sold alongside the footwear lineup.
- United Nude E-Gift Card Digital gift card allowing customers to purchase and send gift cards for redemption on the United Nude website.
- Designer Collaboration Collections Limited edition co-developed footwear collections with designers including Charlie Koolhaas, Issey Miyake, Bao Tranchi, DESU, Jorge Ayala, Taja Riley, Anrealage, and Janelle Miller, plus archive collaborations with Zaha Hadid, Iris van Herpen, Shaun Ross, and Linda Farrow.
Companies that use United Nude
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
United Nude technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature1 record
United Nude partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- Iris van HerpenflagshipHigh-profile ongoing collaboration featuring the 'Sonic Starquakes' FW26 collection inspired by the vibrations of stars and branching forms of supernovae. Iris van Herpen is an internationally renowned Dutch fashion designer known for her innovative, technology-driven designs.
- Zaha HadidcoreArchive collaboration with the late architect Zaha Hadid, one of the most celebrated architectural collaborations in fashion. Featured in the brand's archives as a landmark partnership.
- Issey MiyakecoreCollaboration collection with Japanese fashion designer Issey Miyake, known for innovative pleating techniques and technology-driven fashion.
- Charlie KoolhaasminorCreative collaboration with Charlie Koolhaas featuring the Art Long Boot.
- Bao TranchiminorDesigner collaboration featuring Bao Tranchi's work for United Nude.
- DESUminorDESU x UN collaboration collection.
- Jorge AyalaminorDesigner collaboration with Jorge Ayala for United Nude.
- Taja RileyminorCreative collaboration with Taja Riley for United Nude.
- AnrealageminorCollaboration with Japanese fashion label Anrealage, known for innovative use of light and color in fashion.
- Janelle MillerminorDesigner collaboration with Janelle Miller for United Nude.
- Shaun RossminorArchive collaboration with model and artist Shaun Ross.
- Linda FarrowminorArchive eyewear collaboration with British luxury eyewear designer Linda Farrow.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
United Nude competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Malone Souliers: London-based luxury footwear brand focused on architectural, hand-crafted heels with strong design identity and direct-to-consumer sales. Closely matches United Nude's premium, design-led women's heel positioning.
- Sophia Webster: British luxury footwear label known for playful, sculptural heels and seasonal designer collaborations. Directly comparable to United Nude on premium price points and statement-shoe focus.
- Charlotte Olympia: Luxury footwear brand built around distinctive, architectural platforms and signature design codes. Competes in the same premium niche as United Nude's Loop, Delta, and EQ sandal styles.
- Aquazzura: Italian luxury footwear house with a strong heel and sandal portfolio sold through DTC and high-end wholesale. Comparable to United Nude on price band (€300-€700+), craft positioning, and global e-commerce.
- Dear Frances: Contemporary luxury footwear brand offering minimalist, design-forward shoes at premium prices through DTC. Comparable on target customer (fashion-forward women), price band, and direct e-commerce model.
- Gianvito Rossi: Italian luxury footwear brand offering sleek, architectural heels and boots at premium prices. Competes with United Nude in the contemporary luxury shoe segment with global DTC reach.
- Cult Gaia: Los Angeles-based fashion label known for sculptural, architectural accessories and footwear that function as statement pieces. Directly comparable on avant-garde aesthetic and social-media-driven demand.
Emerging players
- ATP Atelier: Swedish-Italian footwear brand built around handcrafted, sustainable leather shoes sold DTC. Comparable to United Nude's vegan/conscious positioning and premium €200-€400 price band.
Broad incumbents
- Jimmy Choo: Global luxury fashion house with a leading footwear business spanning heels, boots, and sneakers at price points above United Nude. Represents the scaled incumbent that United Nude's premium positioning aspires to reach.
- Christian Louboutin: Iconic French luxury footwear house known for sculptural red-soled heels and high-fashion collaborations. Sets the upper bound on design-led luxury footwear and shares United Nude's architecture-meets-fashion sensibility.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
United Nude social profiles
Digital presenceUnited Nude financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
United Nude leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
United Nude funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
United Nude M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about United Nude
What does United Nude do?
United Nude designs, manufactures, and sells architecturally inspired footwear and accessories for women, men, and unisex wearers through its own e-commerce platforms and physical retail stores. The assortment includes sandals, sneakers, flats, heels, boots, and booties organized into signature collections (Delta, Mobius, Loop, Boulder, Zuma, KHOLA), alongside seasonal lines, vegan options, and limited-edition collaborations with renowned designers such as Zaha Hadid, Iris van Herpen, and Issey Miyake.
Is United Nude a public or private company?
United Nude is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was United Nude founded?
United Nude was founded in 2003. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is United Nude based?
United Nude is headquartered in California, United States, in the North America region.
How does United Nude make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are gift Cards.
Who are United Nude's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Malone Souliers, Sophia Webster, Charlotte Olympia, Aquazzura, Dear Frances, Gianvito Rossi and Cult Gaia. ATP Atelier is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Jimmy Choo and Christian Louboutin.
Does United Nude have an API?
No public API is recorded for United Nude.
What industry is United Nude in?
United Nude's product category is Designer Footwear. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAAACAI, Luxury & Designer Footwear, with a secondary code of CRAAADAH, Luxury & Designer Footwear Retail. Its NAICS code is 45821 and its SIC code is 5661.