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Freedom Pioneers
Original since 1982.
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WE ARE CELEBRATING 40 YEARS!

From the first pair of shoes to a successful family business, together with you we want to remember 40 years of comfortable shoes.
Here we show you the milestones of the last 40 years.

1982

Foundation of BÄR GmbH by Christian and Hilke Bär.
First model: „Der Feine“ Still produced today on request.
A brown suede shoe with laces, displayed inside a white frame with the label 'Der Feine' beneath.
A set of three framed vintage advertisements featuring comfort shoes and a relaxing hammock, showcasing timeless design and style.

1989

The first mail-order catalogue goes into production.
Everything revolves around well-being.

1990

Market entry in France
Hilke Bär + Mr Rodde (Distributeur France) at the shoe fair
in France.
First running shoe
tested by Sebastian Bär in the USA.
Two framed images: one of a man and woman at a shoe exhibition, and another of a running shoe advertisement with a man jogging.

1993

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

1994

Hilke Bär + Christian Bär at the
1st trade fair in Tokyo.
A framed photograph depicting a group of people standing on steps, alongside a vintage-style poster featuring Japanese kanji characters.
Framed images of a vintage shoe store, with one showing two men at a counter and the other three people in front of the store.

1995

Hilke and Christian Bär at the branch opening in
Lüneburg together with Princess Erina of Saxony.
Werner Ruf and Christof Bär installing the
checkout system of the branch.
Own manufacturing facility in India
Since 1995, BÄR shoes have been manufactured at our
production facility in India.
Establishment of US subsidiary, Bears-Crossing in
Boulder, Colorado.
A collage of two framed images: one shows a bustling factory floor with workers, and the other depicts a bear standing outside a brick building with a 'Bears Crossing Co' sign.
Open blue and white vintage Apple iBook laptop showing a shoe retailer's website with product listings on the screen

1999

The first Bär online shop goes online.

2002

Christof and Sebastian Bär become managing directors.
Market entry in Switzerland,
Austria and Great Britain.
Framed photos showing a runner on a long road and designers at a desk working on custom shoes.
Development of Ultra-Runner shoes with extreme athlete
Achim Heukemes.
Achim Heukemes in the “Valley of Death” at the Badwater
Ultramarathon in Death Valley, USA, wearing the shoes he
helped develop.

2003

Robert Wimmer: Winner of the Trans-Europe Run
Creation of the “TransEuropa” shoe model – this model
still exists today and is a popular model.
White and gray BÄR running shoe with black accents, displayed in front of framed photos of an athlete standing and running.
Framed artwork displaying an advertisement for Harald Glööckler's fashion design with text and images of shoes.

2004

Harald Glööckler designs and produces his own collection.
Interior view of a shoe store with wall displays and seating

2006

Subsidiary established in Japan.
The picture shows the shop in the AO Building in Aoyama, Tokyo.

2007

“Luigi Colani” collection
This was followed in 2018 by a new edition of the “London” shoe
to mark Mr. Colani's 90th birthday.
A framed portrait of an older person with a mustache and three stylish shoe-shaped vases holding flowers, with the Colani logo on the side
Close-up of Joe Nimble trail running shoes on a rocky path, highlighting the green sole and durable design.
2011
Creation of the Joe Nimble® brand.Development of the "Speedster"shoe.

2014 - 2017

Various awards for BÄR shoes and the Joe Nimble® brand.
Six framed awards including German Design Award and Red Dot Award
A luxurious gold and black PompÖÖs sneaker by BÄR, showcased next to a fashion designer reviewing shoe designs.

2004 + 2019

Following the successful collaboration in 2004, another
collection was created in 2019 with Harald Glööckler.
Glamorous: TransEuropa also available in gold. Harald
Glööckler during the collection development.

2020

Innovation in the BERGKOMFORT hiking boot:
FIRMOFLEX® technology (patent pending).
Pair of turquoise hiking shoes with yellow and black sole, one upside down on the other. Photo of a woman in matching hiking gear relaxing in a field with sheep in the background.

2021

The BERGKOMFORT line uses sustainable and
water-repellent leather from terracare®.

2022

Use of innovative sustainable materials
Vegan shoes with natural crepe soles showcased in frames, emphasizing eco-friendliness and sustainable materials
Logo with a green footprint and the text 'BÄR Being Free' in a white frame

2022

New logo
New momentum for the next 40 years.
Logo commemorating 40 years anniversary of BÄR
We say thank you
for your loyalty.