Babylon
Babylon is a Ukrainian leather footwear brand with a family-owned factory in Kharkiv. Since 1997 we have been making sneakers, trainers, boots, sheepskin boots and loafers for men and women — by hand, from natural materials.
Babylon is a leather footwear brand with a family-owned factory: handmade sneakers, boots and sheepskin boots in genuine leather, nubuck, suede and shearling, sold factory-direct. Founded in 1997 by Oleh Nikitskyi and Nataliia Nikitska, it has 25 craftspeople and 2 shoe technologists who make 5,000–10,000 pairs a month. The factory is in Kharkiv, Ukraine; orders ship worldwide in 5–10 business days (7–12 to the US, Canada, Israel, New Zealand, Georgia and Montenegro).
Babylon at a glance
As of October 2026
- Materials: genuine leather, nubuck, suede, sheepskin (shearling) and wool felt; Respira Italian lining leather; leather and fur mainly from Spain and Turkey
- Handmade: craftspeople assemble every pair by hand, working with sewing machines and production equipment; leather is cut on an automated cutting table
- Factory-direct prices: family-owned factory, sold directly to customers, with no distributors or retail mark-ups in between
- Founded: 1997, by Oleh Nikitskyi and Nataliia Nikitska
- Team: 25 craftspeople and 2 shoe technologists
- Output: 5,000–10,000 pairs a month, depending on the season
- Lasts: anatomical lasts; every model has its own last and its own size chart — Size guide
- Made to order: if your size is not in stock, we make it within 3 business days
- Location: factory in Kharkiv, Ukraine (100B Hryhoriia Skovorody St)
- Showrooms: Kharkiv (128 Sumska St; 50/52 Pushkinska St) and Kyiv (18 Pavlivska St), daily 10:00–20:00 Kyiv time
- Shipping: worldwide, 5–10 business days (EU, UK, Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Moldova); 7–12 for the US, Canada, Israel, New Zealand, Georgia and Montenegro; shipping is included in the EUR prices — Shipping & duties
- Duties and taxes: not included; import duties and VAT, where they apply, are paid by the customer on delivery
- Payment: secure Stripe checkout: cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Klarna where available
- Returns: 30 days for international orders; 30-day warranty on every pair — International returns
- Contacts: +380 66 325 56 92, info@babylon.net.ua, online daily 9:00–20:00 Kyiv time — All contacts
The people behind the brand
Babylon was founded by Oleh Nikitskyi and Nataliia Nikitska. In 2015 Nataliia launched the retail and online business; today the factory and production are run by these two people:
Director and co-founder
Co-founded Babylon with Nataliia Nikitska in 1997. Records video reviews of our models and writes about choosing shoes on the blog.
Head of production technology
Runs production at the Kharkiv factory. On the blog he explains how to choose materials, care for your shoes and find your size.
Frequently asked questions
Where are Babylon shoes made?
At the brand’s family-owned factory at 100B Hryhoriia Skovorody St, Kharkiv, Ukraine. That is where the lasts are developed, materials are cut, and every pair is assembled by hand, on sewing machines and production equipment, and checked. Babylon does not resell other brands’ shoes.
What materials does Babylon use?
Uppers are genuine leather, nubuck or suede; leather and fur come mainly from Spain and Turkey. The leather lining is Respira, an Italian lining leather; winter models use sheepskin, natural fur or Winterfrost 500 insulation. The exact composition of every pair is on its product page.
How old is the Babylon brand?
Babylon was founded in Kharkiv in 1997 by Oleh Nikitskyi and Nataliia Nikitska. The factory started as a wholesale business; since 2015 the brand has sold directly, in its showrooms and online.
Where can I buy or try on Babylon shoes?
On babylon.net.ua and in three showrooms: 128 Sumska St and 50/52 Pushkinska St in Kharkiv, and 18 Pavlivska St in Kyiv. The showrooms are open daily from 10:00 to 20:00 (Kyiv time).
How do I find my size?
Measure your foot length in centimetres and compare it with the size chart on the product page — lasts differ between models. Step-by-step guidance is in our size guide, and the “Find my size” button on the product page works it out for that specific model.
How do shipping and returns work?
Shipping is free worldwide and takes 5–10 business days (7–12 to the US, Canada, Israel, New Zealand, Georgia and Montenegro); it is included in the EUR prices. Import duties and VAT, where they apply, are paid by the customer on delivery. International orders can be returned within 30 days, and every pair has a 30-day warranty. Details: payment and delivery and returns policy.
Can you adapt a pair to a wide foot or a high instep?
Yes. We can adapt a catalogue model to your foot width and instep height. Our manager will confirm the details.
Who runs the Babylon factory?
Director and co-founder Oleh Nikitskyi; production is led by our head of production technology, Yevhenii. The factory team is 25 craftspeople and 2 shoe technologists.
Materials
Leather, nubuck, suede and natural fur
Our uppers are made from genuine leather, nubuck and suede; winter models are lined with sheepskin.
Each sole is chosen for its season: light for summer, warm with a deep tread for winter.
That’s why a pair of Babylon shoes lasts for many seasons.
Made in Kharkiv since 1997
Production
Our family-owned factory since 1997
Babylon is our family-owned factory in Kharkiv. We check quality at every stage, from choosing the leather to the finished pair, and inspect every pair before it ships. The range includes sneakers, trainers, boots, sheepskin boots, loafers and sandals for men and women.
Fit
Our own last for every model
Every pair is made by hand on a last designed for that specific model, so the shoes fit well — wide feet included. You’ll find the size chart on every product page.
How to order
Online, by phone or in a showroom
Order on the website or give us a call. Our manager is available daily from 9:00 to 20:00 (Kyiv time) and will help you choose the model and size.
We ship worldwide free of charge; delivery takes 5–10 business days to the EU, the UK, Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Moldova, and 7–12 to the US, Canada, Israel, New Zealand, Georgia and Montenegro. Returns and exchanges are accepted within 30 days, and every pair has a 30-day warranty.
Our showrooms are open daily from 10:00 to 20:00: Kharkiv, 128 Sumska St. and 50/52 Pushkinska St.; Kyiv, 18 Pavlivska St.
Brand history
Babylon was founded in Kharkiv, Ukraine, in 1997 by Oleh Nikitskyi and Nataliia Nikitska. The brand started as a wholesale business. In 2015 a new chapter began: Nataliia launched the retail and online business.
Babylon has made its own shoes from the start rather than reselling others. Today it makes two lines — Babylon for men and Miss Babylon for women — and sells them online and in three own showrooms. More: “Babylon: a Ukrainian leather footwear brand since 1997”.
Production: how Babylon shoes are made
Babylon is a manufacturer, not a reseller: all of the brand’s footwear is made at its family-owned factory in Kharkiv, Ukraine, since 1997.
Where is the Babylon factory?
In Kharkiv, at 100B Hryhoriia Skovorody St. This is where lasts are developed, materials are cut, and every pair is sewn and checked. Finished shoes are sold on this website and in three of our own showrooms: 128 Sumska St and 50/52 Pushkinska St in Kharkiv, and 18 Pavlivska St in Kyiv. The showrooms are open daily from 10:00 to 20:00.
Who makes the shoes, and how many pairs?
The factory employs 25 craftspeople and 2 technologists; production is led by our head of production technology, Yevhenii. Depending on the season, the factory makes 5,000 to 10,000 pairs a month.
How one pair is made, step by step
- Last. Every model has its own last. It defines the fit and the size table on the product page; a model can be adapted to your foot width and instep height — our manager will confirm the details.
- Cutting. Upper parts are cut from smooth leather, nubuck or suede; for winter models, from sheepskin and fur.
- Stitching the upper. Craftspeople sew the upper parts and the lining by hand.
- Lasting and sole. The upper is pulled over the last and joined to a sole chosen for the season.
- Quality control. Quality is checked at every stage, and each finished pair is inspected again before dispatch.
Where do the materials come from?
Leather and fur come mainly from Spain and Turkey, and soles are made to order for Babylon. The composition of every layer — upper, lining, insole, sole — is listed on each product page. How to tell materials apart: “Nubuck vs suede” and “Genuine leather vs faux leather”.
Our shoes come with a 30-day warranty; international orders can be returned within 30 days. All factory models are in the catalogue.
What makes Babylon different
- A manufacturer, not a reseller. The shoes are made at the brand’s family-owned factory and sold directly.
- Handmade on our own lasts. Every pair is made by hand on a last designed for that model.
- Natural materials, open composition. Every layer — upper, lining, insole, sole — is listed on the product page.
- A fit adjusted to your foot. Catalog models can be adjusted in width and instep height — our manager will confirm the terms.
- Try before you buy. Any model can be tried on in the Kharkiv and Kyiv showrooms.
Where to buy Babylon shoes
You can buy Babylon shoes on babylon.net.ua and in the brand’s three own showrooms.
Showrooms are open daily from 10:00 to 20:00 (Kyiv time). More about our factory and Kharkiv showrooms — on the Kharkiv-made leather shoes page. Online — the catalog: women’s and men’s sneakers, women’s and men’s boots, sheepskin boots, winter shoes. Phone and messengers — on the Contacts page; customer reviews — on the Reviews page.