40 years of BÄR – the manufactory for comfortable shoes!

From the idea of a shoe with “100% Toe freedom” to the first pair of BÄR shoes and the successful family business we are today.
Take a few steps back with us and discover the highlights and milestones of the last 40 years of our company history.

BÄR GmbH founded by Christian and Hilke Bär.

1982

Founding of BÄR GmbH by Christian and Hilke Bär.

First model: “Der Feine.” Still made to order today.

Three framed posters: two show vintage shoe ads, one a hammock with historical text.

1989

The first mail-order catalog is going into production. Everything revolves around the theme of well-being.

Two framed pictures: Top shows a shoe store with two people, bottom shows a runner and an ad for comfort shoes.

1990

Market entry into France

Hilke Bär + Mr. Rodde (sales partner in France) at the shoe fair in France.

First running shoe
Tested by Sebastian Bär in the USA.

New construction with large outlet and office building in Bietigheim-Bissingen

1993

New building with a large outlet store and office building in
Bietigheim-Bissingen

Wall art with Japanese character and framed photo of people in front of a building

1994

Hilke Bär + Christian Bär at the
1st trade fair in Tokyo.

Two photos. Left: Two men in suits at a counter with computers in a shoe store. Right: Three people in front of 'Der Bequemschuh-Laden'.

1995

Hilke and Christian Bär at the opening of the Lüneburg branch together with Princess Erina of Saxony.

Werner Ruf and Christof Bär setting up the branch’s checkout system.

Left image shows a production hall full of workers, right image shows a brown bear in front of a store.

Our own workshop in India
Since 1995, BÄR shoes have been manufactured at our
production facility in India.

Establishment of the U.S. subsidiary, Bears-Crossing in
Boulder, Colorado.

Open blue laptop displaying an online shoe shop on the screen

1999

The first BÄR online shop goes live.

2002

Christof and Sebastian Bär become managing directors.

Market entry in Switzerland,
Austria, and the United Kingdom.

Two images: One shows a runner on a street; the other shows two men designing shoes.

Development of ultra-runner shoes with extreme athlete Achim Heukemes.

Achim Heukemes in the “Valley of Death” during the Badwater Ultramarathon in Death Valley, USA, wearing the shoe he co-developed.

Two images with a runner and BÄR Trans-Europa running shoe, ideal for long-distance running

2003

Robert Wimmer: Winner of the TransEurope Run

Creation of the “TransEurope” shoe model – it is still available today and remains a popular model

Framed design image with Harald Glööckler and shoe collection, distinguished by comfort.

2004

A collection is designed and produced in collaboration with Harald Glööckler.

Interior view of a modern shoe boutique with numerous displayed shoes and stylish, contemporary design.

2006

Establishment of a subsidiary in Japan.

The image shows the store in the AO Building in Aoyama, Tokyo.

2007

“Luigi Colani” Collection

In 2018, the “London” shoe was reissued to mark Mr. Colani’s 90th birthday.

Close-up of a hiker in Joe Nimble shoes on uneven terrain

2011

Founding of the Joe Nimble® brand and development of the “Speedster” shoe.

Six framed awards: Germany’s Best, German Design Award 2017, reddot design award 2015, Top 100 Innovator 2015, Querdenker Winner 2014, German Design Award 2014

2014 - 2017

Various awards for BÄR shoes and
the Joe Nimble® brand.

Golden sneaker by Pompoos by Bär, next to a person with a smartphone and a luxurious outfit

2004 + 2019

Following the successful collaboration in 2004, another collection with “Harald Glööckler” was created in 2019.
Glamorous: TransEuropa in gold, with Harald
Glööckler involved in the collection’s development.