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 gained essential experience and extensive know-how, making us experts in shoe production.

For generations, Kennel & Schmenger has relied on the experience of more than 100 years of family-owned shoemaking, quality and creative development.

The constant search for the best materials and the tireless discovery of new looks and trends result in collections that convey both modernity and the awareness of owning a true product.

Enthusiasm meets enthusiasm and experience. At Kennel & Schmenger, innovation is combined with high standards of design, quality, materials and fit. The constant striving for improvement, the credo of "making no compromises", is the driving force and the standard for every item in the collections.

The products reflect the spirit of the times, combining a sense of fashion and aesthetics with casualness and that certain something extra, always a little different and yet always distinctive.

Keep your focus on the details. Kennel & Schmenger stands for the combination of modernity, design and quality with an unmistakable signature.

THE SHOE CRAFT

For over 100 years, design, development, administration and the majority of production have been located in Germany. In 2001, two of the company's own factories were opened in Hungary. Making shoes is and remains handcrafted, there are almost no automated processes. Each shoe requires around 150 production steps and an average of 125 individual parts.

SUSTAINABILITY

Kennel & Schmenger is one of the last shoe factories that still produces in Germany. This means that the logistical effort is extremely low. The headquarters with administration, development, design and production has been in Pirmasens, Rhineland-Palatinate, for over 100 years. There are also two of their own factories in Hungary. The production cycle therefore runs within Europe. The top priority is to continue to strengthen and maintain the location in Germany.

A high heel alone requires over 150 production steps - all by hand. Of course, this requires many different components. Kennel & Schmenger stands for quality products - so we have always taken care to only choose components that do not affect the high-quality leather and the complex handwork. Glue is unavoidable in shoe production, but we only use water-based glue and keep it to a minimum. This means that the environment is not unnecessarily burdened and the shoe and leather remain soft and comfortable.

"We want to move away from fast fashion and return to slow fashion, which is what defines us." Our customers have become more aware of sustainability in recent years. We do not compromise on quality, fit and aesthetics - this is the only way we can ensure that our collections last for several seasons. After all, our product should become our customer's favorite shoe. Trends and themes are deliberately implemented in such a way that the styles can be worn for a long time. For example, only a few extreme colors are used and decorations are carefully selected. Kennel & Schmenger products are by no means disposable. Slow fashion is an important part of the design process and this is underlined by the high-quality and durable materials that we use in production.

The use of leather is sometimes controversial in the fashion industry. However, we clearly stand behind our leather: it is a sustainable material and, above all, a natural product. Our leather is a by-product of the food industry that must be destroyed if it is no longer used. When the raw hides are disposed of, huge amounts of CO2 are released, which we minimize through further processing.In addition to the environmental aspect, leather also combines a number of positive properties that no other material has. It is natural, durable, breathable, elastic and, above all, comfortable to wear on the skin. Since we want to retain these natural properties as best as possible, our leather is not treated too heavily. Durability is an important aspect and part of Kennel & Schmenger's corporate philosophy.We work with long-term trading partners with whom we are in constant contact. When selecting suppliers, it is important that they work ecologically and efficiently in order to reduce the carbon footprint to a minimum. The transport routes are also short, as most of our components come from Italy.The keyword "vegan leather" is on everyone's lips. As of today, however, it is not an alternative for us. For every artificial material, new production must be initiated, which would have a negative impact on the environment. Furthermore, for every vegan, leather-like material, a synthetic carrier material is indispensable, which does not have the same positive properties as leather.