If you’re the style-conscious type, you probably pay close attention to what you wear out of the house. But what about what you wear when you’re inside it? We've done a Mahabis review to see if they offer the perfect solution.

Designed in London, sustainably made in Portugal and inspired by sleek Scandi minimalism, Mahabis are basically the slipper equivalent to a designer trainer; they’ll upgrade your WFH look or bedtime ensemble to the realms of chic.

Besides looking great, Mahabis claim to be comfy and functional too. And unlike traditional brands, the Classic model can even stand up to outdoor use. Few slippers on the market theoretically tick so many boxes.

The only problem is that they don’t come cheap. Mahabis Classics retail at £79, easily 10 times what you might pay for your average bog-standard slippers. To see if the outlay is worth it, I put a women’s pair (literally) through the paces.

• Shop Mahabis here

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Mahabis sale

Mahabis aren’t cheap, but luckily you can grab some great discounts in the Mahabis sale. If none of these are for you, you can get 15% off your first order by signing up to the Mahabis mailing list, and if you buy two pairs, you can get £25 off.

• Mahabis Classic, £23.70 (saving £55.30) – buy here
• Mahabis Canvas, £39.50 (saving £39.50) – buy here
• Mahabis Mule, £57.85 (saving £31.25) – buy here
• Mahabis Flow, £23.70 (saving £55.30) – buy here
• Mahabis Curve Canvas, £64.35 (saving £34.65) – buy here
• Mahabis Alto, £91 (saving £49) – buy here

Pros

• Stylish exterior and colourways
• Can be worn both inside and outside
• Warm but breathable
• Sustainably produced

Cons

• Tricky to clean
• Takes a bit of effort to put on
• Sizing is not exact
• Pricey

Mahabis review: quick summary

Is it a shoe or is it a slipper? That’s kind of the point – Mahabis are a bit of both.

Having worn my pair around the house for the past couple of weeks, I now think of them as a pair of indoor shoes. With their thick rubber base, they give me the structure and style of a trainer, but with the comfort of a traditional slipper.

The hard-base sole was, personally, a radical departure – I have always just worn socks around my flat. But once I got used to that extra rubber layer between me and the floor, it felt like a game-changer.

The cushioned soles provided much-needed support as I moved around during my daily routine; taking work calls, sorting the laundry, making dinner. My toes felt cosy and insulated from my tiles, too – a feature I imagine will be heaven-sent in chilly winter months – but even on warm days the slippers felt surprisingly breathable.

Mahabis slippers are made sustainably, largely from recycled wool felt but, in the best way, they don’t look like it. Just like all my favourite sustainably produced products, there isn’t any compromise for the user.

But, best of all, the Mahabis Classics are super stylish. As someone who usually takes out the bins in stocking feet – hoping the neighbours don’t spot me as I tiptoe shoeless to the curb – I suddenly felt very put together wearing these outside instead.

Are the slippers perfect? No. Besides their hefty price point, Mahabis are not the easiest to clean, and I found the fit slightly off for my foot size. But overall they had me impressed.

• Shop Mahabis here

Mahabis review: full review

Style and colourways

Style is intrinsic to Mahabis: the slippers are designed to be sleek, minimalist and contemporary.  

The slippers come in multiple models – including a slip-on Mule and a lightweight Breathe specifically designed for summer. However, both because I liked the design best and because I think it’s the most apt barometer for the brand, I chose to test the Classic.

• Mahabis Classic Slippers, £79 – buy here

The Mahabis Classic comes with a recycled felt wool top, called an ‘upper’ – slightly stiff so that the slipper keeps its chic shape – and an interior lining of fluffy wool fleece and a foam footbed. There is a slightly grippy black heel strap (Mahabis call it a ‘cradle’) and, as a distinct USP, a rubber sole. It’s this sole that makes the slipper suitable for outdoor use as well as indoor.

Whether you order from the women’s or men’s range, the Mahabis Classic comes in 10 colourways. The majority of options involve shades of dark grey felt – practical, I guess, as they won’t show the dirt over time. The fun bit comes in via the rubber base, which can be yellow, blue or even pink. 

As someone who loves a pastel, I threw practicality out the window and opted for one of the new light colours: creamy-hued ‘Skagen stone’ felt with the ‘Piedmont lavender’ base. If Mahabis slippers are about style, I figured, I wanted to choose a pair that really maximised my existing wardrobe.

Comfort, fit and practicality

Straight out of the box, these were already comfortable to wear – no surprises there, given that they are slippers. The snuggly interior wool was cosy around the top of my foot, and the foam footbed seemed supportive.

Mahabis doesn’t provide exact sizes, rather making their slippers in a range. I have small feet with very narrow heels, so ordered the second size up for women, 3 to 3.5. 

While the slippers fit OK, they weren’t perfect. The issue wasn’t the length or felt upper, but the heel cradle – designed to hold the slipper in place. In my case it was loose and so the slippers felt a little oversized.

This wasn’t a major issue because, most of the time, I was puttering between my lounge and bedroom at 3km per hour. But it would probably stop me from wearing the slippers on any bigger adventures; say, to the corner shop.

The cradle, I’d argue, also made the Mahabis more effort to put on than a conventional slipper. Rather than literally ‘slip’ into them handsfree, I had to pull each one on, like I would a trainer. Again, this was not a dealbreaker for me – but it could be for anyone who, for any reason, struggles to put on conventional shoes.

The foam footbed on my pair was removable and suitable for hand-washing. The rubber base was easy to wipe clean. Two big positives.

However, the most vulnerable parts of the slippers – the fluffy wool interior and the felt upper – are less easy to care for. They can’t be put in the washing machine, with the latter only suitable for spot-cleaning with a damp cloth. 

Because I had a cream-hued slipper – my own choice, I know – the lack of an easy clean option made me paranoid about ruining them. I avoided wearing them during potentially messy moments, like watering my garden or cooking. 

I also became paranoid about, er, aromatics. The wool is apparently resistant to absorbing smells, but given the price point did I really want to risk wearing them without socks? Not really. In short: these are great slippers, but they aren’t exactly completely carefree.

• Mahabis Classic Slippers, £79 – buy here

Sustainability

Fast fashion is one of the biggest issues for the environment, so I personally feel it’s ideal to buy from a slipper brand that treads lightly on the earth. And from that point of view, I give Mahabis a solid tick.  

First of all, the business works with carbon offsetting, so for every pair of slippers sold they plant one tree. They offset the carbon footprint of their team, too. The packaging that the slippers come in is both recycled and recyclable and doesn’t contain any glue or chemicals.

What’s more, the slippers themselves contain recycled materials. The felt upper that runs across the top is made from a material called ReWooly. Sourced from a heritage mill in Florence, it’s at least 50% recycled wool from clothing which would have otherwise gone to landfill. 

I never would have known the upper was recycled material – it looked to me 100% ‘new’. There are zero compromises on style or quality.

As for the wool lining inside of the Mahabis? That is certified organic wool, and certified non-mulesed, which means the wellbeing of the sheep is put first. The rubber sole, meanwhile, is responsibly sourced from hevea trees and is 100% recyclable natural material.

Finally, when Mahabis slippers start looking tired, a UK-wide recycling scheme steps in. You can donate yours to be turned into other useful materials, such as road surfacing. In turn, you’ll be given a 15% off voucher to use towards buying a new pair. Talk about full circle.

Price

Mahabis slippers are not cheap – £79 for the Classic model, which is easily four times the price of many other slippers, or even more than 10 times. 

After testing them over a few weeks, I feel like they are made in a high-quality way. I can see them lasting a long time if you take care of them, even many years. So, depending on your own particular budget, shopping priorities and thoughts on style, it’s easy to argue that they are good value for money.

• Shop Mahabis here

Mahabis review: the verdict

Mahabis Classics are a luxury, and if you are on a tight budget or not really bothered about style, then realistically there are other slippers out there that might be a better buy for you.

Saying that, after weeks of use, I have fallen for my pair and think they’re a great investment. 

This is partly because I feel like they’ve been made in a long-lasting, sustainable way. With conscious care I anticipate them lasting for many years – unlike many cheaper brands. 

I won’t wear my Mahabis outside much beyond taking out the bin, as they don’t fit me quite perfectly enough. However, because I work from home half the week, they suit my indoor-based lifestyle to a tee. 

When I’m moving around my flat these slippers provide the support and comfort that I normally seek in a trainer. But when I need to answer a door to a neighbour or have a friend around for a drink, they make me look stylishly put together too. I call that a win-win.

• Shop Mahabis here

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