Sustainable Shoe Making with 'trippen': Shoes Made to Last and Be Repaired

A famous shoe brand in Japan, 'trippen' has been making shoes in Germany for over 30 years. The brand's stance is to preserve European traditional shoe industry and craftsmanship. From the 1990s when they started their brand, even before the term 'sustainability' was popular, they have been committed to making shoes that can be repaired and worn for a long time.

This time, we had a chance to talk with Izumi Saito, the buyer of 'trippen' at Kaneman Co., Ltd., the general supplier of 'trippen' in Japan. She shared about the history and philosophy of the brand, as well as the classic items that have been loved for many years.

Origin of the Brand Name 'trippen': A Toddler's Walk

"'trippen' was started in a small gallery in Berlin, Germany in 1991 by Michael Oehler, a shoemaker master who was involved in the production of medical orthopedic shoes, and Angela Spieth, a shoe and clothing designer.

"The origin of the name 'trippen' comes from a toddler's way of walking. In medieval Europe, ladies of nobility wore wooden shoes over their regular shoes to prevent them from getting dirty, and the way they walked looked like a toddler’s walk. The first collection of 'unwearable wooden sandals' presented by trippen was inspired by these wooden shoes."