Sioux has celebrated its 70th anniversary with a special event in the historic town of Ludwigsburg in Germany. More than 300 guests, including employees, business partners and friends of the company, gathered to celebrate the anniversary of this traditional brand.
Sioux Managing Director and shareholder, Lewin Berner, opened the event: “Our success is due to the loyalty and dedication of those people who have accompanied Sioux for decades. The company remains true to its values and combines tradition and zeitgeist in a dynamic fashion world.”
Sioux, founded by Peter Sapper in 1954 in Southwest Germany, now employs around 70 people and produces around 500,000 pairs of shoes annually; the brand is represented in over 25 countries worldwide.
The company’s original mission was to manufacture moccasins – the traditional, comfortable Native American footwear. By 1958, the company had produced a lightweight, close-fitting slip-on shoe called ‘Autoped’ – designed for drivers; at the time it was one of the first driving shoes on the market. Today, this type of shoe is well established; famous wearers include British Formula 1 driver Stirling Moss.
At its celebratory ceremony, Sioux honoured particularly long-standing employees and partners. Particularly noteworthy was the award given to an employee with an incredible 64 years of service, and an Indian production partner who has been associated with Sioux for over 45 years and in the third generation.
During the evening, Sioux brand ambassador Maite Kelly surprised guests with a live performance, where she presented her collection and shared personal stories. She even sang a duet with Sioux boss Mr Berner! Two short films were also shown – “70 years of Sioux history” and “What Sioux means to me” – which took guests on an emotional journey through the history and meaning of the brand. International greetings from long-standing partners, including those from the USA, India and China, underlined Sioux’s global presence.
