Botas was a Czech footwear company based in
Skuteč
Skuteč (; german: Skutsch) is a town in Chrudim District in the Pardubice Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 5,000 inhabitants.
Administrative parts
Villages of Borek, Hněvětice, Lažany, Lešany, Lhota u Skutče, Nová Ves, Radčice, ...
, focused on the production of sports shoes. It was founded in 1949 under the name Botana, initially focusing on men's walking shoes. From 1963, it produced shoes under the Botas brand. In 2000, the company's name was changed to match its shoe brand. In 2023, Botas was sold to the
Zlín-based company Vasky, which continues to sell shoes under the original brand name.
History
Founded as Botana in 1949 by the merger of smaller nationalized enterprises in Skuteč and neighbouring towns that previously supplied the
Bata Corporation, the company initially specialized in men's
walking shoes.
In 1963, it began producing sports shoes under the Botas brand, derived from the Czech word for shoe, ''bota'', and the initial letter of the town of Skuteč.
By the late 1960s, over 50% of their output was in the sports sector, and by 1988, this had grown to 82.9%, with an export market that covered 35 countries.
Between 1990 and 1996, the company manufactured shoes for other brands, including
Puma
Puma or PUMA may refer to:
Animals
* ''Puma'' (genus), a genus in the family Felidae
** Puma (species) or cougar, a large cat
Businesses and organisations
* Puma (brand), a multinational shoe and sportswear company
* Puma Energy, a mid- and d ...
,
Jofa,
Graf,
Koho,
CCM,
Adidas
Adidas AG (; stylized as adidas since 1949) is a German multinational corporation, founded and headquartered in Herzogenaurach, Bavaria, that designs and manufactures shoes, clothing and accessories. It is the largest sportswear manufactur ...
,
Bauer
Bauer is a German surname meaning "peasant" or "farmer". For notable people sharing the surname, see Bauer (surname).
Bauer may also refer to:
Education and literature
* Bauer's Lexicon, a dictionary of Biblical Greek
* Bauer College of Busin ...
,
Karhu
Karhu (Finnish for 'bear') may refer to:
* Karhu (beer), a Finnish beer brand
* ''Karhu'' (ship), name of the 1876 barque ''Lalla Rookh'' while under the Finnish flag, 1923/4 to 1926
* Karhu (sports brand), a Finnish sports brand
* Karhu (surname ...
, Jackson, and
Riedell. In 1992, they signed a contract with
Salomon to make skiing, snowboarding, and hiking footwear, a collaboration that continues to the present.
In 2000, along with rebranding to the name Botas, the company shifted its focus to ice hockey, figure skating, and ski footwear, which made up 90% of their production capacity.
2023 sale to Vasky
In January 2023, the company stopped production in Skuteč due to rising energy prices, increased manufacturing costs, and the impossibility of exporting to some countries caused by the
Russian invasion of Ukraine. A new location for its headquarters was not immediately selected, and the possibility of the company's sale was being considered. In February, it was announced that Botas was in
liquidation
Liquidation is the process in accounting by which a company is brought to an end in Canada, United Kingdom, United States, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, and many other countries. The assets and property of the company are redistrib ...
.
In mid-March, the
Zlín-based footwear company Vasky presented a proposal to purchase Botas and maintain production in Skuteč, or otherwise to move it to Zlín. The sale went through in April, with the bulk of production being shifted to Vasky factories and some workshops being kept in Skuteč. Botas footwear will continue to be sold under the original brand.
References
External links
* {{official website, vasky.cz/cs/page/zachrana-botas
Clothing companies established in 1949
1949 establishments in Czechoslovakia
2023 disestablishments in the Czech Republic
Athletic shoe brands
Sporting goods manufacturers
Czech brands
Manufacturing companies of Czechoslovakia