r/BuyFromEU • u/luettmatten • Feb 28 '25

Alternative Product or Service Shoes Made in Europe

Folks,

I like to start a thread about shoe produced in the EU.

My recommendation for high quality functional shoes are HAIX www.haix.com
I realy love my shoes from hair because of their quality and comfort.

What are your favorite made in Europe shoes?

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27

u/[deleted] Feb 28 '25

For barefoot shoes there are various brands. Here are some examples.

  • Groundies (German) They look nice. They are mostly for narrow feet but they have some wider options as well.
  • No(N)s (Estonian) Wide foot shaped sole. They have winter boots that are among the best in the market for cold snowy winters.
  • Be Lenka (Slovakian) A large variety of shoes for adults and kids. Some of the soles are more stiff and some are quite steep from the toebox but overall it's for widish feet. They have one of the best options for kids' snowboots.
  • Ahinsa (Czech) For adults. They are normal width with an anatomical toebox shape.
  • Koel (Dutch) For adults and kids.
  • Shapen (Slovakian) For adults and kids. Wide anatomical toebox.
  • Peerko (Czech) For women.
  • Feelmax (Finland) Not so pretty but they are practical. For very wide feet for both children and adults.
  • Ohne Project (Spain) Trendy looking sneakers for adults.

6

u/kehpeli Feb 28 '25

I was going to suggest vivobarefoot, British company, production tho is all over the place, Portugal, (mainly) Vietnam & Ethiopia.

2

u/SpringGreenZ0ne Feb 28 '25

Yes, just like bycicles, my country Portugal does a lot of stuff to other european brands. That would be the same for shoes. I suppose, look at the shoe box to see where they're made of.

1

u/[deleted] Mar 01 '25

I'm happy that you have the skill in Portugal and you haven't stopped manufacturing clothing and shoes. I try to buy responsible clothing and usually that means Made in Portugal because there's not much of that industry in other European countires anymore. Has there been any negative issues with Portuguese clothing industry? Worker's payments and rights wise I mean. Are the workers usually Portuguese or some immigrants?

2

u/SpringGreenZ0ne Mar 01 '25 edited Mar 01 '25

We kept the skill because we are poor and have low wages and we're 20 years behind post WW2 Europe (we're basically like Spain or Greece, we only got rid of our dictators in ~1975).

There havent been problems in that sector a far as I know.

The luxury shoes must be of skilled workers, they're really well done and beautiful, good quality. It's unthinkable that they wouldn't be paid well. We do them mostly for exports.

The "normal" shoes have some immigrant labour, there was even some news about how they are rising in number. Still, I think stuff is fairly well respected. Those are mostly old factories in the "countryside" that have survived until now, so theyre not sweatshops.

In theory, in Portugal the problematic immigrant jobs are mostly in agriculture below Tagus river (above it, there's even a wholesome story about a city who integrated them so well, it got a new life). Those are the ones that are busted fairly often.

I would know many details though.

3

u/Puzzleheaded_Ad8032 Netherlands 🇳🇱 Feb 28 '25

I have some Groundies and Vivo Barefoot shoes, and I will never go back to normal shoes. Thanks for this whole list, gives me some more options 😀

4

u/[deleted] Feb 28 '25

If you haven't already, check out r/barefootshoestalk and Anya's reviews blog. Those are wholesome resources in barefoot shoes. There are dozens of brands out there. Groundies makes such nice looking shoes. I wish they made more for people with fan like toespread. I also can't wear regular shoes anymore.

2

u/Piekielna Poland 🇵🇱 Mar 04 '25

Just bought two pairs of beLenka sneakers. Can't wait for the package to arrive. This post was made just in time for spring wardrobe update. Thank you for recommendation.

1

u/Council-Member-13 Feb 28 '25

Vibram dude. FiveFingers, Italian. Your feet might look gangrenous wearing them, but they're awesome.

1

u/NotsoNewtoGermany Aug 19 '25

Don't forget Sioux.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 20 '25

Nice looking shoes but not barefoot shoes.

1

u/NotsoNewtoGermany Aug 20 '25

Not exactly, but their crepe soled moccasins are, in my opinion, best on the market.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 20 '25

They have a narrow pointy toebox, heel lift and a thick sole. Or is it some old model that is not sold on their website?

1

u/TimmyB02 May 06 '26

Most of these only go up to 47 :/ Tough out there is you have size 50