Hauenstien, Germany (1897)

Carl-August Seibel founded one of the first shoe factories in Hauenstein, in 1886. At the time he only produced shoes and sandals in his own house. In 1907 a new factory was built, which still produces shoes today.

The business continued to grow throughout from the forties. During the early seventies a recession hit Europe, but was mainly averted by Josef Seibel who took steps to introduce new ideas in development and reorganization.

Towards the end of the 1980s, new production facilities, offices, and warehouses were built in Hauenstein, Hungary, and Romania.

Josef Seibel is a comfort brand, and we develop our shoes using the latest know-how.

Josef Seibel Today

Today the company is run by the fourth generation "Carl-August Seibel". We are still grounded on a legacy built by our founder, Carl-August Seibel. Mr. Seibel saw the need for efficient construction and manufacturing of sturdy, durable, and long-lasting shoes - and this has been continued generation after generation, culminating in the Seibel shoe line’s popularity around the world today.

• Production
  5 Million
  Pairs per year
• Employees Worldwide
  2500
  320 in Germany
• Sold in Over
  40
  Countries

Josef Seibel shoes have been a household name in Western Europe since the 70’s. The 90’s ushered in a new phase for Josef Seibel – allowing the expansion into major North American markets across the Atlantic. From a small village in Germany to production facilities in Europe, Asia, and the Americas, Josef Seibel is continuing our expansion.

Premium quality materials, best workmanship, perfect fitting and comfort have helped the Josef Seibel brand become known as "The European Comfort Shoe".

Josef Seibel shoe designs range from casual and trendy daily wear styles to more formal and classic varieties. With its broad array of designs and styles, customers can be assured of excellent workmanship without sacrificing their fashion sense.

History of Romika

The brand name "ROMIKA" has an interesting history which started in the 1920s when three salesmen, Mr. Rollman, Mr. Michael, and Mr. Kaufmann decided to use the first two letters of their surnames to form the name ROMIKA.

In 1936, Hellmuth Lemm acquired the brand name of this newfound company. Today, the Romika brand is known internationally.

The Romika Story

1921-1935

On December 29, 1921, the company Romika AG and ultimately the brand "ROMIKA" is founded in Gusterath Valley near Trier.
From the first two letters of their surnames form the company founder Hans Rollmann, Carl Michael and Karl Kaufmann the name "RO-MI-KA". In 1922, shoe production begins. In 1935 the company was bankrupted under pressure from the Nazi regime. The two Jewish entrepreneurs Rollmann and Kaufmann must leave the country in the sequence. Owners become the banks.

1936-1940

On 24.03.1936 Hellmuth Lemm takes over the brand in his "newly founded" shoe factory Romika GmbH. The production of robust wellington boots, later also of home and slippers, is the basis for a successful start of the company: 545 people are already employed after half a year.

1940 - 1950

Meanwhile grown to 1000 employees, destroyed in 1945 a bomb attack the factory. Reconstruction after the war begins with only 50 employees. First, shoe soles, but also bicycle tubes and bed bottles are made. Rubber boots follow. ROMIKA is the first company to produce heatable single presses.

1950 - 1960

Companies like ROMIKA make possible what will later be called the German economic miracle. More and better and better products are coming to the market. "Made in Germany" becomes synonymous with quality. The demand for fashionable footwear is growing - and with it the ROMIKA works, which employed 2,600 people by the end of the decade.

1960 - 1970

The 60s - expansion on a wide corridor. ROMIKA develops new sports shoes for tennis, basketball, football, hiking and climbing. New plants are being built in Reinsfeld, Bitburg, Augsburg and Reus in Spain - characterized by innovative production techniques. Final production, administration and shipping take place in new buildings in Trier.

1970 - 1980

Windsurfing, jogging - new sports and more leisure time demand new products. ROMIKA surf, running and tennis shoes become the sporty companion of the new leisure movement. The fact that the company thinks in terms of European dimensions is demonstrated by ROMIKA's Iberica factories in Spain and Barr in France.

1980 - 1990

The nineties were a time of upheaval. After the death of company founder Hellmuth Lemm in 1988 and the withdrawal of the Lemm family from the company, the new company owner René C. Jäggi takes over the tax at ROMIKA.

1990 - 1996

The nineties brought changes to Romika. The founder Hellmuth Lemm died and the family retired from the business. A new owner Rene C. Jaeggi took over the business.

Since 2005

In February 2005, the Romika falls into bankruptcy. After difficult negotiations, the Josef Seibel Group manages to acquire the Romika brand and, through the founding of Romika Shoes GmbH, also obtains the Trier location. For 80 qualified employees on site and over 300 employees in the production facility in the Czech Republic, this finally provides secure jobs.

The Josef Seibel Group management lies under the leadership of Carl-August Seibel and Andreas Garnier who oversee the management in Trier.