Modern and beautiful shoes with BÄR principles!
Experience the interview live on YouTube or read the complete transcript here. The interview is about the design and functionality of BÄR shoes. They stand for pure comfort and flexibility.
INTERVIEW BETWEEN DR. CLAUDIA SCHULZ AND CHRISTOF BÄR:
Dr. Claudia Schulz: BÄR is known for durability, safety, and a distinctive shoe style. This is naturally rooted in the anatomy and shape of the shoes. There are the famous original designs that you recognize at first glance, but how does BÄR deal with fashion trends, for example? Do you take these things into account too, or do you say: no, we only make one particular type of shoe? I think a lot has developed in this area as well. A modern woman who wants comfort and may need a certain degree of orthopedic support because of physical issues still does not want a grandma shoe, to put it rather disparagingly. She wants a modern shoe. How does BÄR deal with this challenge or these topics?
Christof Bär: As you said so accurately, our origins lie in providing the foot, especially as it ages, with what it needs. That has always been our main task. The development in customer preferences, particularly something that is naturally more apparent in women’s shoes than in men’s shoes when it comes to contemporary style, is this: They do not want to dress like a grandma; they want to walk comfortably. We consistently pursue the goal of giving the foot the very best. Selling the most beautiful shoe on the market is not an easy task. With a last that is appropriately shaped to match the natural form of the foot, you first have to create something that reflects the current zeitgeist.
Dr. Claudia Schulz: Pumps are not particularly in demand right now anyway. Sportier shoes, sneaker styles of all kinds, are more popular—and that should actually work in your favor.
Christof Bär: That’s right, and you can see it too. I mean, competition has grown as a result, because we can no longer operate alone in this niche. Naturally, we have also developed shoes in these areas that meet those expectations. The sneaker look is important here. For us, the key question is always: how much Toe freedom do we give the shoe? That is the fundamental theme, and it works very well here—or, as we mentioned earlier, with sustainable materials too, such as the SEAQUAL yarn used here, which is even water-repellent. Lightness is always an important consideration, but it is often at odds with what the foot requires anatomically, because a lightweight shoe is not always as stable as necessary. You have to pay close attention to whether it provides the appropriate guidance. Here, we work with materials and combinations of materials that also determine the product’s quality. For example, we use a TPU/PU combination or a latex sole. It is not only excellent in terms of sustainability; it is also very much in line with current trends because, functionally speaking, there is hardly a softer material than a latex sole. It cushions the foot and provides optimum comfort in the thinnest possible space. Along with this, we have the high standards of naturally incorporating fashion trends. Our goal is to translate something with a simple design onto a wide last in a way that looks good, is wearable, and is also reflected in the materials, material structures, colors, or details—for example, colorful soles or laces that reflect current trends. Or we work with small themes and accessories, such as the little hearts here. We make the zipper visible and use high-quality sliders. In this way, we offer 100% comfort while creating shoes that can still be worn with trendy looks.
Dr. Claudia Schulz: In terms of trendy styles, especially the many wide-leg trousers, a shoe with a little more volume is actually a perfect match, because otherwise the shoe might disappear beneath those wide trousers. What I particularly liked was the shoe with the crepe sole that you showed me earlier. I think that with shoes that are very clean and of very high quality, it is naturally also important to use high-quality material with a truly uniform grain structure. To me, this fits somewhat into the fashion trend of “quiet luxury,” and these are already very modern shoes in my view. Of course, the entire sneaker sector will continue to develop, but I think you can definitely see further development in the models you have just shown. BÄR has certainly not stood still; instead, it observes fashion trends without wanting to be a trendsetter. The goal is to meet the expectations of this customer while still giving the shoes a modern, contemporary touch. I think that has been achieved very successfully.
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