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Fine white sand, ...
... glittering sun and well-toned surfers waiting for the perfect wave on Curl Curl Beach, one of Sydney's most famous. It was against this dream backdrop that the business idea for a completely new type of sandal was born. A kind of footwear which would combine casual Australian lifestyle, a closeness with nature and a relaxed mindset with German precision craftsmanship and orthopaedic know-how.
The Beginning
Swimming trunks, surfboard and thongs – basic Australian beachwear. And even in upmarket restaurants, it's apparently impossible to separate the islanders from their casual summer footwear. Markus Schott has always been fascinated by the Australians' relaxed approach to fashion. Back in the 1990s, he decided that he wanted to combine this attitude with his traditional family business's knowledge of orthopaedic shoe technology. As a specialist, he was particularly keen on removing the obvious disadvantages of simple thongs. The feet should have a firm hold, so that the pressure on the joints is reduced, thus benefitting the body.
 
Foto: Maren Apel
At the same time as his visits to Australia were taking place, Markus Schott's family company "Schott, Orthopädie-Schuhtechnik" in Homberg, Hesse, was increasingly receiving enquiries for thin, orthopaedic inserts for summer shoes. Markus Schott started to experiment. He ended up cutting the individual footprint directly into the sole of the sandal. This resulted in a tailor-made shoe which also corresponded with the taste of fashion-conscious and casual wearers. The VALE sandal was born.
Initially Markus Schott, together with his Production Manager, Henry Schmidt, produced individual pairs to order in the company's workshop. The pair's expertise from years of both orthopaedic shoemaking and, in Markus's case, working as a podiatrist, helped them to find the optimum adjustment to the footbed. They perfected the various work steps and refined the visual side. The result was a sandal which incorporated both an individual footbed and the desired visual design. The sole, which improves heel-toe walking, offers ideal, joint-relieving heel pads and shock absorption and optimises the musculoskeletal system.
"globally active but regionally rooted"
At the beginning of June 2008, Markus Schott met Teja Habbishaw at the first presentation of "VALE sandal" at the "Hessentag" in Homberg. Teja, an adventurous marketing expert, was immediately fascinated by the international feel exuded by VALE. At the same time, he was thrilled that such a stylish product was being produced in his home town of Homberg. The chemistry between Teja and Markus was right and the two recognised their common strengths with which they planned to advance VALE: "globally active but regionally rooted" has been their motto ever since.
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