LOWA began in 1923...
As a small start-up producing traditional handmade Bavarian Haferl shoes and has developed over the years into an international company with a strong global reputation. As a global outdoor company that is dedicated to its roots, we strive to achieve three goals at all times: the highest quality, perfect fit and innovation in every area.
This commitment is reflected in every aspect of our business and extends well beyond the boundaries of the company’s operations. We are driven by sustainable company growth, not short-term trends. Traditional values such as trust, honesty and respect shape our business. We apply these principles not only to our daily interactions with one another but also to our business relationships.
100% Made In Europe

Safeguarding technological know-how:
Developing and producing high-quality outdoor footwear is a complex process that requires a high degree of handicraft. By making its footwear in Europe, LOWA can maintain a close relationship between its production operation and its research and development department. One benefit of this decision is the company’s ability to produce a completely new prototype within one day at its base in Jetzendorf.

Lowering transport costs and emissions:
The proximity of production facilities to LOWA’s primary markets in Europe keeps transport distances short. This, in turn, reduces emissions and eliminates high transport costs.

Influencing the value chain:
By producing in Europe, LOWA can influence the entire value chain. Since July 2019, nearly 95 percent of production capacities have been covered by wholly-owned LOWA subsidiaries. This enables LOWA to shape the selection of the materials, production methods and employment conditions.
Environmental And Nature Protection
As an outdoor sports brand, LOWA lives with and from nature and the outdoors. That is why the company carefully handles its resources and contributes its part to environmental protection.

Protection Of Nature
Protecting the environment and conserving resources is one thing. Active support of nature-protecting projects is another. Since 2001, LOWA employees have been part of a reforestation project run by the Bavarian State Forest Enterprise and therefore regularly plant saplings in the mountain forests and slopes of Bavaria. This is designed to maintain a healthy mixed forest, one of our most valuable ecosystems. The costs of the seedlings, travel, accommodations and meals are covered by LOWA.
Thanks to this initiative, LOWA employees plant approximately 500 trees annually.

Photovoltaic Systems
Increasing energy efficiency and boosting the use of renewable energy are explicit goals at LOWA. Since 2015, a large section of company car parks are covered by a photovoltaic system and since 2018, this also applies to the roofs of Halls 1 and 2 – buildings that include warehouse and production facilities. Thus, we can cover around 25% of our annual power needs with solar-power that has been produced on site. We use 100% green, hydroelectric power to satisfy the remaining demand.

Lowingo
LOWA supports the conservation organization “World Wide Fund for Nature” (WWF) in its projects protecting endangered specials with the sales of the soft toy LOWINGO. Nature conservancy, the protection of the living environment, and the preservation of wildlife species and wild plants are the core projects of the conservancy organization that is one of the largest in the world. The WWF has been involved in conservancy for more than 5 0 years and today is active in more than 100 countries. All total, this conservation organization currently is running 1,300 projects for the protection of biodiversity. The goal of the WWF is to halt the global destruction of nature and the environment and to create a future where people and nature can live harmoniously together.
Selection Of Materials
Free of harmful Substances and made with the highest quality. LOWA is not satisfied with second best. For this reason, LOWA always offers its customers the best quality. This starts with the materials used and ends with the finished shoe. LOWA understands the demands on itself and on its performance as a guiding value for the high quality of its products.
LOWA selects only the highest-quality materials that meet all requirements related to the elimination of harmful substances. As part of this work, LOWA has compiled a restricted substances list for all products that is based on such international criteria as the CADS guidelines. The company pays particularly close attention to the leather it uses. This natural product is the basis of many LOWA shoes and boots. LOWA works exclusively with European tanneries that practise a sustainable production philosophy.
The leather used by LOWA is mainly from European cattle. LOWA obtains about 70% of its leather from its main supplier Heinen with headquarters in Wegberg, Germany. Other tanneries from which the company buys leather include VIVIANI from Zagreb (Croatia) and DANI from Arzignano (Italy) and DERCOSA from Cheste (Spain). All of the tanneries were carefully selected, in part because their company’s philosophies of ecological and socially responsible production align perfectly with LOWA’s own philosophy.
Social Commitment
Support Of National And International Social And Cultural Projects
The Jetzendorf location is a clear commitment to the Bavarian roots of the company. Besides regional institutions and projects, LOWA also supports social and cultural projects at the national and international levels

KENIAL E.V.
KENIAL distributes shoe donations from LOWA to children’s homes, schools and other recipients in Nepal, Bhutan and other countries in need.

EDUCATION FOR ALL (EFA)
LOWA donates shoes to “Education for all”, an organisation founded by Dirk Fissmer. Its aim is to promote education and development opportunities for children, young women and disabled people in Tajikistan and thus give them better prospects for the future.

CASA 21
LOWA also supports the CASA 21 projects for homeless people – which are coordinated by the Frankfurt Caritas Association – through shoe donations. CASA 21 organizes trips and hiking tours in the mountains as part of its ecumenical community social work.

LEBENSHILFE GRAFENAU E.V.
LOWA also supports the CASA 21 projects for homeless people – which are coordinated by the Frankfurt Caritas Association – through shoe donations. CASA 21 organizes trips and hiking tours in the mountains as part of its ecumenical community social work.

OUTDOOR AGAINST CANCER (OAC)
Outdoor Against Cancer (OAC) has set itself the task of showing people who suffer from cancer the beneficial effects of outdoor activities and sports. The non-profit organisation offers outdoor activities for cancer patients of all ages. LOWA is active in the OAC partner network as an ambassador and sponsor.
Certifications And Memberships

CADS E.V.
LOWA is one of the founding members of cads e.V., an association of manufacturers and suppliers under the umbrella of the German Shoe Institute that seeks to prevent the use of harmful substances in shoes. All member companies have voluntarily committed themselves to meeting the deliberately demanding requirements of the cads e.V. guideline entitled “Catalogue of restricted substances in shoes”.

EUROPEAN OUTDOOR CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION
LOWA is a member of the European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA). This is an alliance of European outdoor companies that carry out worldwide nature-protection projects. LOWA works in such areas as reforestation projects.

EUROPEAN OUTDOOR GROUP
LOWA is a member of the European Outdoor Group (EOG). This association representing the interests of the European outdoor industry was established in 2003. Sustainability is the central focus of EOG activities. The outdoor sector encourages its consumers to interact with nature in a responsible way and seeks means and ways of reducing its impact on the environment as much as possible without hampering performance.

ISO 9001 CERTIFICATION
Since 2008, LOWA has been certified in accordance with ISO 9001:2008, the international standard for quality management systems, and goes through an external audit every year. The certificate affirms that LOWA’s process procedures are clearly and transparently defined. Customer satisfaction is always our ultimate goal. This applies equally to both LOWA’s retailers and consumers. The audits conducted by the German Test and Research Institute for Footwear Production also focus on economic and social issues.