The brothers Carl-August and Anton Seibel install a punching machine in the barn next to their parents' house. The first shoe factory in Hauenstein is founded under the name C A Seibel.
The First World War breaks out. Demand falls and good leather is hard to come by. Times are tough for the shoe factory and Josef Seibel, Carl-August's son.
The next challenge came soon after the end of the war: the global economic crisis hit at the end of the 1920s and the mark lost its value. No sooner had this major crisis been overcome than the Second World War began.
Josef Seibel stands his ground against all odds and is able to keep his shoe factory going. After the war, he hands it over to his son, Josef junior, in good condition.
Josef Seibel junior experienced war and imprisonment at first hand; like many of his generation, he has a war school leaving certificate and no education. But he learnt the most important thing: to get things done.
He sits in front of his newspaper at five o'clock in the morning and is ‘in business’ until late in the evening. He knows and looks after every single employee, from the authorised signatory to the caretaker - a family culture that is still practised today.
The post-war miracle brings new demand and production is expanded. The collection is still small, but the models are already becoming more sporty.
Carl-August Seibel enters the business. As a graduate in business administration, he starts by focussing on the figures: Shoes are sold during the week, balance sheets are studied at the weekend. The company becomes more productive.
Carl-August Seibel takes over the sole management of the company. He flies to San Francisco with a pair of shoes and conquers the United States - the internationalisation of the JOSEF SEIBEL brand has begun.
The first step towards greater sustainability: ‘Spirit of Nature’ is born - and brings Carl-August Seibel another success.
Franziska Seibel joins the family business, which is already being successfully managed by the fifth generation, as a new member of the management team. Together with her father, Carl-August, she forms the dynamic centrepiece of the entrepreneurial family.
The new generation brings a breath of fresh air and innovative ideas to the company. With its commitment to modernisation and sustainability, it creates a symbiosis of tradition and forward-looking innovation. Their passion for progressive strategies promises an exciting future for JOSEF SEIBEL.
The company undergoes a significant change in its image: JOSEF SEIBEL carries out a complete rebranding. With a fresh and modern design, JOSEF SEIBEL demonstrates its commitment to innovation and contemporary trends, which is reflected in both the products and the brand identity.
In addition, JOSEF SEIBEL initiates a project with a social focus in Kenya, Africa, and opens a shoe factory.
This project creates apprenticeships, increases the labour supply and creates added value for the structurally weak region.
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