Barefoot begins with BÄR.
Freedom pioneers
Original since 1982.
Barefoot begins with BÄR.
Freedom pioneers
Original since 1982.
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 past 40 years of our company’s history.
BÄR GmbH founded by Christian and Hilke Bär.
First model: “Der Feine.” Still made to order today.
The first mail-order catalog is going into production. Everything revolves around the theme of well-being.
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 building with a large outlet store and office building in
Bietigheim-Bissingen
Hilke Bär + Christian Bär at the
1st trade fair in Tokyo.
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.
Our own factory in India
Since 1995, BÄR shoes have been made at our
production facility in India.
Founding of the US subsidiary, Bears-Crossing in
Boulder, Colorado.
The first BÄR online shop goes live.
Christof and Sebastian Bär become managing directors.
Market entry in Switzerland,
Austria, and the United Kingdom.
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.
Robert Wimmer: Winner of the TransEurope Run
Creation of the “TransEurope” shoe model – it is still available today and remains a popular model
A collection is designed and produced in collaboration with Harald Glööckler.
Establishment of a subsidiary in Japan.
The image shows the store in the AO Building in Aoyama, Tokyo.
“Luigi Colani” Collection
In 2018, the “London” shoe was reissued to mark Mr. Colani’s 90th birthday.
Founding of the Joe Nimble® brand and development of the “Speedster” shoe.
Various awards for BÄR shoes and
the Joe Nimble® brand.
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.
Innovation in the BERGKOMFORT hiking shoe: The
patent-pending FIRMOFLEX® technology.
The BERGKOMFORT line uses sustainable, water-repellent leather from terracare®.
Use of innovative sustainable materials
New logo
A fresh momentum for the next 40 years.
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