The Haferl shoe originated in the Allgäu (Bavaria), a landscape of rocky mountains, pastures, forests, villages and lakes. In 1803, the shoemaker Franz Schratt created the Haferl shoe, a shoe inspired by nature. He designed the shoe initially for farmers and hunters, it is based on the Chamois hoof: He created a narrow sole which would, like the Chamois hoof offer a safe hold while crossing the rough mountain terrain. With its practical elegance the Haferl earned a wide following: And so the prototype of a classic shoe was born.

At the end of the 19th century approximately 800 workshops were manufacturing custom-made Haferl shoes in the Allgäu. Franz Schratts grandson Josef Schratt took the process on stage further and made the Haferls shoe famous beyond its rural origins. Soon high society joined Josef Schratts regular customers.
In the Twenties the Haferl shoe conquered European fashion centres and became Street wear for elegant ladies and gentlemen. Our company Schwangau Schuh continues to follow this tradition: solid, classic and using only materials of the highest quality.

The most likely theory as to how the Haferl shoe gained its name is that during the Edwardian and Victorian era English city gentleman of high society discovered the Haferl shoe while spending their holidays in the Alps and added it to their (holiday-) wardrobe. Being only used to ankle fitting boots they classified this unusual shoe type “half shoe” which in turn was translated into “ha(l)ferl” by the local Bavarian inhabitants.