Peter Kaiser – who was born on 6 August 1814 – founded his shoemaking workshop on 20 January 1838. Manufacture of ‘inside out’ slippers with lightweight soles crafted from fabric, sheepskin, and shell cordovan.
Entry advertising opening of the PETER KAISER workshop
Source: Pirmasens City Archive Microfilms
The business relocates to Schloss Street 168 (nowadays street number 63) – PETER KAISER is the largest and most modern company in Pirmasens, employing 25 journeymen.
Exports to Switzerland as well as to New York, St.Louis, Valparaiso, and Adelaide via Hamburg, Rotterdam, Le Havre, and Marseille.
PETER KAISER uses a steam engine to supply power to the machines in the cutting and sewing departments.
The first American-made lockstitch sewing machines go into operation along with the first McKay stitcher.
1881
PETER KAISER
shoe factory maker’s mark
Brochure excerpt including collection list
1894
Prince Ludwig of Bavaria
visits factory
1900
Advertising postcard
for the PETER KAISER
sewing department
The picture depicts a workroom in the PETER KAISER shoe factory in Pirmasens.
Production of
military boots
Initial business contacts in France. Shoes exported to Teheran and South America.
The Gebrüder Birkenstock Company turns to PETER KAISER in 1938 to discuss the possibility of collaborating to manufacture orthopaedic shoes.
1929
Shoemaking in the Schloss Street factory
Special department for collar boots manufacture set up.
1938
100 years of PETER KAISER
Centennial Anniversary Brochure
Acquisition of the manufacturing plant
at Lemberger Street 46,
originally constructed in 1923.
20.000 pairs of women’s luxury shoes are being produced per month by 300 employees.
Photo of production process during 1950s
1953
500 Employees in Pirmasens
On 1 July PETER KAISER moves into Lemberger St 46 with 500 employees.
Assortment: the luxury women’s outdoor shoe ‘PK Jasmin’ and other ‘fine footwear’.
The original factory building underwent two expansions. The first extension was added in 1955 with the second following in 1958.
Shoes exported to Norway, Austria, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.
1965
PETER KAISER begins using computers.
The PETER KAISER shoe company employs 1,000 workers across five factories.
1968
130 years of PETER KAISER
Anniversary party starring the Jacob Sisters
Photo: Karl Joneck, Jacob Sisters, 1968
1970
Pirmasens to New York City
container causeway.
18,000 women’s shoes are exported to New York.
1977
PETER KAISER belongs to top tier
of German footwear exporters
Advert in ‘Schuh im Bild’ trade magazine, 1977
Layout: Helmut Knerr
Formation of the PETER KAISER Inc. distribution company in Weston, Connecticut. Subsequent relocation to New York.
1988
Photos of workers in the finishing
and cutting departments
1993
Inside into the production
Handbag production was launched in cooperation with the Medici Grimm KG.
Start of production in Felgueiras,
Portugal
Collaboration with star Polish designer, Dawid Tomaszewski
2013
Photo from sewing department
Photo series featuring manufacturing work at the PETER KAISER factory in Pirmasens: an ankle boot being made for the 2013 C´est Tout Collection.
2018
Relaunch of the PETER KAISER
brand with new logo
The Covid-19 crisis
hits PETER KAISER hard.
In December 2023, CAPRICE enters an exciting new chapter by taking over the European footwear brand with the richest tradition.
