Concepts
Timeless Design
In 1991, Berlin was a city reawakening to unity and reinvention. During this time, Angela Spieth and Michael Oehler set out on a journey to redefine footwear. They founded trippen with a vision of transparency, expressed through avant-garde designs that balance restraint with creativity. Their approach was both intentional and forward-thinking: rubber sole molds were carefully selected for their exceptional comfort, while leather uppers provided an endless canvas for artistic expression. From this philosophy, trippen’s unmistakable design language emerged, earning international recognition and a devoted following. Staying true to its origins, the brand continues to rise above fleeting fashion trends, creating designs that exist beyond time. Each new creation adds to trippen’s growing archive of more than 1,600 styles, all available for re-order. To celebrate individuality, the bespoke “Made for You” service allows customers to personalize their shoes, selecting leather textures and sole colors to create a pair uniquely their own.
Crafted in Germany
At the core of trippen’s philosophy is a strong commitment to social responsibility. In 1998, the brand established its own production facility in Zehdenick, Brandenburg, a region with a rich yet declining shoemaking heritage. By keeping production in-house, trippen ensures meticulous craftsmanship, reduces waste, and fosters creative freedom. This approach encourages experimentation, resulting in truly original designs. It also upholds the brand’s integrity by minimizing marketing and packaging costs, allowing resources to be invested in premium materials and fair wages. Supporting the community has always been a guiding principle. During the 1990s, trippen welcomed migrants displaced by the Balkan Wars into its workforce, a commitment to inclusion that continues today with refugees from Afghanistan, Somalia, and Syria. This dedication to social integration was recognized with the 2018 Brandenburg Integration Award, affirming trippen’s role not only as a shoemaker but also as a force for meaningful change.
A Philosophy of Transparency
Following the principle of “choose well, buy less,” trippen embraces longevity in both design and ethical production. Transparency is at the heart of every creation, with shoes crafted for durability, repairability, and resilience. An in-house repair service ensures that each pair can be resoled multiple times, extending its lifespan for years, if not decades. Materials are chosen with great care, including premium leather sourced from a trusted tannery in Tuscany, vegetable-tanned through an environmentally responsible process that allows a natural patina to develop over time. Where possible, adhesives are avoided to maintain purity of construction. Beyond craftsmanship, trippen continues to explore ways to minimize its ecological footprint, incorporating solar energy, pioneering biodegradable and vegan alternatives, and advancing sustainable innovations. Each collection represents another step toward a singular vision: to create the finest shoes with the smallest impact on the world.