Everything you wanted to know about custom hand-painted sneakers.

Standard timeline is 2–4 weeks of paint in our Mumbai studio, plus 3–5 business days of shipping inside India. Custom commissions with character portraits or full diptych compositions sit at the longer end. We share a digital sketch for sign-off before paint touches the shoe, so the clock only starts once the design is locked. If you have a hard date — a birthday, a tour night, an anniversary — message us on WhatsApp first so we can hold a paint slot.

Hand-painted, freehand, every single layer. We never print, never use decals, never apply transfers. Our artists work from a sketch, layer Angelus leather paints by brush, then seal each pair by hand. The brushstrokes are visible on close inspection — that is the point. If you want a print, you can buy one anywhere. If you want wearable art, that is what we paint in the studio.

Angelus leather paints — the industry standard used by sneaker artists worldwide. They are designed specifically for leather: they bond into the surface rather than sit on top, they flex with the material, and they hold their colour for years. We finish each pair with a professional-grade Angelus sealer that adds water resistance and scuff protection. Naming the paint matters because the paint is half the craft.

Choose, design, paint, quality check. You pick the silhouette and the brief. Our artists sketch the layout digitally and share it for sign-off. Once you approve, paint goes on the shoe in the Mumbai studio over 2–4 weeks — base layers, detail work, sealing. Before the pair ships, the studio runs a final quality check: edge cleanup, flex test on the toe box, photograph for the archive. Then it ships to you.

Every pair is painted in our Mumbai studio. There is no outsourcing, no offshore workshop, no white-label partner. The artist team works in-house, on the same benches, with the same paints. When you commission a pair you are commissioning a specific artist on the team — we tell you which one painted yours.

Yes. The studio sends sketch sign-off, base-layer photos, and a final reveal shot before shipping. If you want more frequent updates, ask on WhatsApp when you commission the pair and we will keep you in the loop. Most clients prefer the surprise of the reveal — but the choice is yours.

Editions on the site sit between ₹13,999 and ₹24,999 depending on the silhouette and the complexity of the artwork. Simple colourways and graphic-led designs sit at the lower end. Full character portraits, multi-layer scene work, and diptych compositions across both shoes sit higher. Custom commissions start at ₹13,999 and we quote in writing before paint begins — no surprise pricing.

Yes. The price you see is the all-in price — authentic base sneaker plus the hand-painted artwork plus sealing. You do not need to source the shoe separately or send us a pair to paint on. We start with a fresh silhouette in the studio so the canvas is clean for the artist.

UPI, all major cards, net banking, and bank transfer. For custom commissions we collect a 50% advance to lock the paint slot and the remaining 50% before the pair ships. For editions on the site, payment is in full at checkout. International commissions are typically paid in full upfront via card — message us for the exact flow.

No. Every pair is hand-painted to your specification and is a 1-of-1 — the artwork retires when the edition sells out. Producing a pair without confirmed payment is not viable. We accept UPI, cards, net banking, and bank transfer instead.

Yes. WhatsApp us your GST number before placing the order and we will generate a proper GST invoice in your business name. We cannot retroactively add GST details to an order that has already been billed, so flag it upfront when you commission the pair.

Rarely. Sneak Peek is a premium limited-drop studio, not a discount brand. Editions are capped at small numbers and retire when they sell out. Members on the email list get first access to new drops and the occasional birthday perk — that is the extent of it. We do not run sitewide sales because the timeline and the materials do not support discount pricing.

Air Force 1 and Air Jordan 1 silhouettes are available in UK 6 to UK 12. Vans and Comet Low styles run from UK 5 to UK 12. Baby Boots come in UK 1 to UK 5. If you need a size outside the standard range — wider widths, half sizes, or kids sizes that are not listed — message us on WhatsApp and we will check stock with our supplier before you commit.

Half sizes are available on most silhouettes but stock is not guaranteed. Tell us your half size on the order and we will confirm within 24 hours whether we can source it. If we cannot, we will recommend whether to size up or down based on the silhouette.

Air Force 1 and Air Jordan 1 run true to UK size for most feet — order your usual UK size. Vans run roughly half a size large, so if you are between sizes, size down. Comet Low runs true. If you have wider feet or you are sizing for a gift, send us your usual sneaker size and we will recommend.

We do not paint on customer-supplied shoes as standard policy — we cannot warranty paint on a silhouette we have not prepped from new. For one-off sentimental pairs, message us on WhatsApp with photos and the brief. If we agree to take it on, the paint warranty does not apply and the timeline runs longer because the surface needs additional prep.

Yes — DDP shipping worldwide via the studio. Production runs the standard 2–4 weeks of paint, then international delivery is typically 5–9 business days depending on the country. Duties and import taxes are handled at checkout for most destinations. Message us on WhatsApp before commissioning if your country has unusual import rules so we can confirm the all-in cost.

3–5 business days from the day the studio dispatches your pair, via our courier partners. You receive a tracking number by email and on WhatsApp the moment the pair leaves the studio. Metro cities are usually on the faster end, tier-2 and tier-3 destinations sit at 5 days.

Domestic shipping in India is included on every order. International shipping is quoted at checkout based on destination and weight. We do not pad shipping margins — what the courier charges is what you pay.

Yes, the moment the pair leaves the studio. Tracking comes via email and on WhatsApp from the same number you commissioned the pair through. If the tracking stalls or anything looks off, message us — the studio chases the courier on your behalf rather than asking you to do it.

Often yes, if you give us enough runway. Standard timeline is 2–4 weeks of paint plus shipping, so plan at least 4–5 weeks ahead for India and 5–6 weeks for international. For a hard date, message us on WhatsApp before you commission so we can hold a paint slot. We do not promise dates we cannot hit.

Yes, when the paint is right and the prep is right. Angelus is built for leather flex — properly layered and sealed, it bonds into the leather rather than sitting on top, and it holds through years of regular wear. Our pairs are sealed with a professional-grade Angelus finisher that adds water resistance and scuff protection. The artwork is built to be worn, not stored.

Not under normal wear. The toe box is the high-flex zone on most silhouettes and that is where careful layering matters most. Our artists thin the paint and build it up in multiple coats so it moves with the leather instead of cracking off it. If you see micro-cracking within 30 days from a manufacturing defect, we repair or replace it free.

Wipe with a soft damp cloth, never machine-wash. Use a soft brush for the midsole and the laces. Store away from direct sunlight to keep colours from fading. Avoid heavy bending of painted areas when you put them on — use a shoe horn if you can. We include a printed care card with every order. Looked after this way, a pair will hold for years.

Water resistant, not fully waterproof. The Angelus sealer repels light rain and quick splashes — wipe the pair down when you get home and it is fine. For monsoon downpours or wet construction sites, no painted sneaker (ours or anyone else's) is the right call. Save the artwork for the days that deserve it.

Yes, on the unpainted areas — midsole, sole, laces, lining. On the painted areas, use a soft damp cloth only. Avoid solvent-based cleaners, magic erasers, or anything abrasive on the artwork — those will lift the paint. The included care card covers this in detail.

Yes — that is most of what the studio paints. Send the brief on WhatsApp: the fandom, the moment, the reference image, the silhouette you want it on. Our artists sketch a layout for you to approve, we quote the price, you pay 50% to lock the paint slot, and the pair ships in 3–4 weeks. Custom commissions start at ₹13,999.

Anything that helps the artist see what you see — a film still, a panel from the manga, an album cover, a fan-art piece, a specific colour swatch, a screenshot from a tour. The more specific the reference, the closer the final pair sits to your vision. For character portraits, a clean front-facing reference gives the best likeness.

Yes, and it is one of our favourite formats. A single composition that reads across both shoes when stood side-by-side — the scene continues, the character splits across the pair, the lyric runs from heel to heel. We sketch the diptych layout for sign-off before paint so you can see how the pieces line up.

No. These are hand-painted fan-art commissions by independent artists — wearable tributes to the things you love, not licensed merchandise. We do not claim affiliation with any film studio, anime production, sports team, music label, or comic publisher. The artistry is original; the inspiration is yours.

Yes — gifting drops for teams, brand collaborations, milestone events. Volume changes the timeline because each pair is still hand-painted, so plan ahead. Send the brief and the pair count to the studio email and we will quote in writing with a delivery schedule. Past corporate work has covered launches, anniversaries, and retirement gifts.

Yes — gifting is a big part of what we do. Send us the recipient's shoe size, the fandom or theme, and any references they would love. We sketch the layout, you approve, the pair arrives in studio packaging ready to give. Add a handwritten note on request. For surprise gifts, we coordinate the reveal date with you so nothing slips.

Custom hand-painted pairs are 1-of-1 wearable art, made specifically for you, so we do not accept change-of-mind returns. This is standard across the custom-paint industry — the artwork cannot be resold once it carries your brief. What we absolutely do cover is craft defects: anything wrong with the paint, the shoe, or the build, and the studio makes it right.

Manufacturing defects on the base shoe and paint defects from our application — premature cracking, peeling, or finish issues — within 30 days of delivery. Send photos on WhatsApp and we repair or replace the pair free. Wear-and-tear, accidental damage, machine-washing, and care not following the included instructions are not covered.

Send photos of the box and the pair within 48 hours of delivery. The studio handles the courier claim and gets you a fix or a replacement — you do not have to chase the courier yourself. This is rare because we pack pairs in rigid boxes with foam, but when it happens we own it.

If we have not started painting and the design has not been approved, yes — message us on WhatsApp within 24 hours of placing the order and we will refund the advance. Once paint is on the shoe, the pair becomes a 1-of-1 piece of wearable art that cannot be resold, so cancellation is no longer possible.

WhatsApp us at +91 99303 73233 with your order number and photos of the issue. The studio responds personally — usually within 2 hours during studio hours. We assess, propose a fix, and either repair the pair in studio or replace it depending on the issue. No long forms, no support tickets.