{"id":5098,"date":"2024-07-07T19:55:35","date_gmt":"2024-07-07T17:55:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brand.peter-kaiser.com\/history\/"},"modified":"2024-10-02T15:01:35","modified_gmt":"2024-10-02T13:01:35","slug":"history","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/brand.peter-kaiser.com\/en\/history\/","title":{"rendered":"History"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\tFrom Pirmasens to the World\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The PETER KAISER success story<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Peter Kaiser opened his shoe workshop in 1838. Within a few years he succeeded in transforming the company into one of the first internationally-renown industrial shoe manufacturers. Currently, PETER KAISER is one of the oldest and most respected women\u2019s shoe brands in Europe. This success story began in Pirmasens and continues to be written in the German shoe capital to this day. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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1838<\/div>
Founding<\/div><\/div>
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Peter Kaiser \u2013 who was born on 6 August 1814 \u2013 founded his shoemaking workshop on 20 January 1838. Manufacture of \u2018inside out\u2019 slippers with lightweight soles crafted from fabric, sheepskin, and shell cordovan.<\/div>
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Entry advertising opening of the PETER KAISER workshop
Source: Pirmasens City Archive Microfilms<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

1841 \u2013 1842<\/div>
Relocation<\/div><\/div>
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The business relocates to Schloss Street 168 (nowadays street number 63) \u2013 PETER KAISER is the largest and most modern company in Pirmasens, employing 25 journeymen. <\/div><\/div><\/div>
1847<\/div>
Global Exports<\/div><\/div>
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Exports to Switzerland as well as to New York, St.Louis, Valparaiso, and Adelaide via Hamburg, Rotterdam, Le Havre, and Marseille.<\/div><\/div><\/div>
1866<\/div><\/div>
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PETER KAISER uses a steam engine to supply power to the machines in the cutting and sewing departments.<\/div><\/div><\/div>
1870s<\/div><\/div>
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The first American-made lockstitch sewing machines go into operation along with the first McKay stitcher.<\/div><\/div><\/div>
1881<\/div>
PETER KAISER
shoe factory maker\u2019s mark<\/div><\/div>
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Brochure excerpt including collection list<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

1881<\/div>
Death of Peter Kaiser<\/div><\/div>
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Peter Kaiser passes away at the age of 67 on 3 January 1881.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

1894<\/div>
Prince Ludwig of Bavaria
visits factory<\/div><\/div>
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1900<\/div>
Advertising postcard
for the PETER KAISER
sewing department<\/div><\/div>
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The picture depicts a workroom in the PETER KAISER shoe factory in Pirmasens.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

1913<\/div><\/div>
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PETER KAISER GmbH
founded<\/div><\/div><\/div>
1914-1918<\/div><\/div>
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Production of
military boots<\/div><\/div><\/div>
1925<\/div><\/div>
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Excerpt from illustrated catalogue<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

1926<\/div><\/div>
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Initial business contacts in France. Shoes exported to Teheran and South America.<\/div><\/div><\/div>
1928<\/div>
PETER KAISER Logos<\/div><\/div>
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The Gebr\u00fcder Birkenstock Company turns to PETER KAISER in 1938 to discuss the possibility of collaborating to manufacture orthopaedic shoes.<\/div>
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1929<\/div>
Shoemaking in the Schloss Street factory<\/div><\/div>
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Special department for collar boots manufacture set up.<\/div>
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1935<\/div>
Pyjama Shoe Advert<\/div><\/div>
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A pair of Pyjama Shoes cost 5.50 Deutsche Mark.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

1938<\/div>
100 years of PETER KAISER<\/div><\/div>
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Centennial Anniversary Brochure<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

1951<\/div>
Design sketch from 1951<\/div><\/div>
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New Factory Building<\/div><\/div>
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Acquisition of the manufacturing plant
at Lemberger Street 46,
originally constructed in 1923.<\/div><\/div><\/div>
1951<\/div>
PK Winter Boots<\/div><\/div>
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with \u2018reversible\u2019 fur spats and reverse coil zips<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

1952<\/div><\/div>
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20.000 pairs of women\u2019s luxury shoes are being produced per month by 300 employees.<\/div>
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Photo of production process during 1950s<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

1953<\/div>
500 Employees in Pirmasens<\/div><\/div>
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On 1 July PETER KAISER moves into Lemberger St 46 with 500 employees.
Assortment: the luxury women\u2019s outdoor shoe \u2018PK Jasmin\u2019 and other \u2018fine footwear\u2019. <\/div><\/div><\/div>
1958<\/div>
Advert for PK Shoes<\/div><\/div>
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Layout: Helmut Knerr<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

1958<\/div><\/div>
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The original factory building underwent two expansions. The first extension was added in 1955 with the second following in 1958. <\/div>
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1962<\/div><\/div>
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Shoes exported to Norway, Austria, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.<\/div><\/div><\/div>
1965<\/div>
PETER KAISER begins using computers.<\/div><\/div>
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The PETER KAISER shoe company employs 1,000 workers across five factories.<\/div><\/div><\/div>
1968<\/div>
130 years of PETER KAISER<\/div><\/div>
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Anniversary party starring the Jacob Sisters<\/div>
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Photo: Karl Joneck, Jacob Sisters, 1968<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

1970<\/div>
Pirmasens to New York City
container causeway.<\/div><\/div>
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18,000 women\u2019s shoes are exported to New York.<\/div>
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Platforms from the 70s<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

1977<\/div>
PETER KAISER belongs to top tier
of German footwear exporters<\/div><\/div>
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Advert in \u2018Schuh im Bild\u2019 trade magazine, 1977
Layout: Helmut Knerr <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

1980<\/div><\/div>
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Pink peep toe sandals<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

1983<\/div>
PETER KAISER Inc.<\/div><\/div>
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Formation of the PETER KAISER Inc. distribution company in Weston, Connecticut. Subsequent relocation to New York. <\/div><\/div><\/div>
1988<\/div>
Photos of workers in the finishing
and cutting departments<\/div><\/div>
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1993<\/div>
Inside into the production<\/div><\/div>
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Photo of PK shoemakers<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

1994<\/div><\/div>
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Handbag production was launched in cooperation with the Medici Grimm KG.<\/div>
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1999<\/div><\/div>
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Start of production in Felgueiras,
Portugal<\/div><\/div><\/div>
1999<\/div>
Iconic Ad<\/div><\/div>
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2011<\/div><\/div>
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Collaboration with star Polish designer, Dawid Tomaszewski<\/div><\/div><\/div>
2012<\/div><\/div>
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Online shop
launched<\/div><\/div><\/div>
2013<\/div>
Photo from sewing department<\/div><\/div>
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\"\"<\/div>

Photo series featuring manufacturing work at the PETER KAISER factory in Pirmasens: an ankle boot being made for the 2013 C\u00b4est Tout Collection.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

2018<\/div>
Relaunch of the PETER KAISER
brand with new logo<\/div><\/div>
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2020<\/div><\/div>
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The Covid-19 crisis
hits PETER KAISER hard.<\/div><\/div><\/div>
2023<\/div><\/div>
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In December 2023, CAPRICE enters an exciting new chapter by taking over the European footwear brand with the richest tradition.<\/div>
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2024<\/div>
We are Back<\/div><\/div>
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