History of Lowa

(LorenzWagner). At that time, we were mainly making Norwegian work shoes and sewn models and we have been

Slowly transformed from a craft business to an industrial enterprise.

- After the death of the company founder in 1953, the company was taken over by the son-in-law and former apprentice, Joseph Lederer. Later, production was expanded to include Norwegian sewn mountain and hiking boots and lace-up ski boots.

- It was Joseph Lederer who, in 1967, provided the impetus for the market launch of the first synthetic ski boot by a Bavarian manufacturer. The name of this revolutionary model was "LOWA Total". In the mid-1970s, Joseph Lederer developed the "air system", making the ski boot the most important pillar of the company. In the years that followed, iLOWA ski boots continued to conquer the market, where their popularity as a versatile and comfortable boot was growing steadily.

- In 1982, the first lightweight touring shoe, the LOWA "Trekker" (with a ladies' model, "Lady-Sport") was launched on the market, which has been continuously improved and developed into the best-selling LOWA shoe to this day.

- In 1983, two innovations were launched on the ski boot market: the LOWA model with a central closure system (a single buckle for a full fit) and the LOWA boot with a central entry consisting of a two-part cuff opening to the front and back.

- In 1986, LOWA was one of the first shoe manufacturers to use the new GoreTex® membrane.

- In 1990, the first multicoloured trekking shoe, the LOWA "MultiTec", was introduced; this model was specially developed for physiological and ergonomic characteristics (pronation and supination zones, rotation zones).

- The trekking shoe develops during this period to become the new driving force of the company.

- In 1993 LOWA was sold to the Zanatta family, owners of the companies Tecnica and Think Pink. The synergy effects thus generated were and are a great advantage for both companies. On the one hand, this step created a solid economic basis, on the other hand, LOWA has developed from a typically Bavarian shoe factory into an internationally oriented, growing company.

- However, LOWA continues to remain an independent company headed by Werner Riethmann (managing director since 1992).

- LOWA 's headquarters are located in Jetzendorf, about 40 km north of Munich.

- In May 1996, a large dispatch warehouse was built and the entire premises renovated, thereby marking a clear option for Germany as a production location.

- Today Lowa has more than 200 employees and produces 1,800,000 pairs of shoes.

The different production sites are Jetzendorf in Germany, Montebelluna in Italy and Slovakia.