Kennel & Schmenger Online Shop - About us

THE COMPANY

"I see preserving 100 years of shoemaking and craftsmanship tradition as my most important task." (Andreas Klautzsch, CEO)

EXCELLENCE IN SHOEMAKING. SINCE 1918.

Kennel & Schmenger is a family business that combines tradition, craftsmanship, lifestyle and quality. The location and production in Germany are part of the company's identity and will be maintained and strengthened in the future.

Kennel & Schmenger has an unmistakable signature that makes the brand a key brand in the premium segment. Over 100 years, we have acquired significant experience and extensive expertise, making us experts in shoe production.

Keep your focus on the details. Kennel & Schmenger stands for the combination of modernity, design and quality with a distinctive handwriting.

HANDCRAFT

Making shoes is and remains manual labour, there are almost no automated processes. Around 150 production steps and an average of 125 individual parts are required for each shoe.

Design, development, administration and the majority of production have been based in Germany for over 100 years. In 2001, the company opened two of its own factories in Hungary.

SUSTAINABILITY - WE CARE

Ecological and social responsibility

Sustainability has always been a matter of course for us. We consistently decide in favour of using leather in production. This is a by-product from the food industry - so there is no need to start new production for synthetic materials. We also work with solvent-free adhesives to protect the environment and our employees. In addition, we have always had short supply chains that are based purely in Europe. In addition to our production in Germany, we also produce in two of our own factories in Hungary. We source leather from Italy. For tools and other components, we maintain long-term partnerships with local companies in the region.

We produce slow fashion. Thanks to their high quality and timeless design, Kennel & Schmenger shoes can be worn for several seasons. Our customers are developing an ever-increasing demand for sustainability, which we are happy to fulfil. In addition to the factors that have always been a matter of course for us, we are constantly evolving and optimising our processes and energy generation. In 2022, a photovoltaic system was installed on the entire factory roof. Further measures are planned for the future to reduce our CO2 footprint. Kennel & Schmenger has been a member of the Leather Working Group since 2022. LWG is a non-profit organisation that promotes best practices and positive social and environmental change for responsible leather production.

CONCEPT STORES

The opening of the first concept store in 2008 was a decisive milestone in the further expansion of the brand's presence. Since then, twelve more stores have been opened in Germany, Austria and Luxembourg. Our concept stores are located in the most important major cities and medium-sized centres, such as Frankfurt am Main, Munich, Hamburg and Salzburg.

HISTORY

1918: founded by Fritz Kennel.

1950: A.A. Schmenger joins the company.

1961: Klaus Kennel (grandson of the founder) joins the company..

1968: Move to the newly built current production facility.

1995: The current managing partner and creative director Andreas Klautzsch joins the company.

2001: Start of production in the two own production plants in Hungary.

2002: Start of the reorientation of the company and the collections.

2005: Andreas Klautzsch becomes Managing Director together with Klaus Kennel on November 1.  

2008: Opening of the first concept store.

2018: 100th anniversary of the company.

FACTS & FIGURES

approx. 570 employees

[200 in Pirmasens, 250 in Hungary and 120 in our own retail]

approx. 1000 Points of Sale  

[worldwide]

over 30 countries worldwide

[Europe, America, Asia, Australia]

at least 150 production steps

[ per shoe, made by hand]

on average 125 individual parts per shoe

[for sneakers up to 200]

22 own stores 

[Concept Stores and Outlet Shops]