Eduard Meier GmbH (known as "Ed Meier") is a German

shoemaking Shoemaking is the process of making footwear. Originally, shoes were made one at a time by hand, often by groups of shoemakers, or cobblers (also known as '' cordwainers''). In the 18th century, dozens or even hundreds of masters, journeymen ...

company. Founded in Munich in 1596, it is the oldest existing shoemaking company in the world.

History

The company was founded by Hans Mayr and is first mentioned in 1596. Mayr was selling shoes primarily to the upper class. The company was purveyor to the Saxon royal house, the House of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen and since 1895 also to the Bavarian royal house, holding a

Royal Warrant A royal warrant is a document issued by a monarch which confers rights or privileges on the recipient, or has the effect of law. Royal warrant may refer to: * Royal warrant of appointment, warrant to tradespeople who supply goods or services to a r ...

. Customers could get customized shoes "for every occasion and usage" by mail order. Mayr made wooden replicas of each customer's feet and stored them for at least 30 years so that customers could choose new shoes from an illustrated catalog. At the beginning of the 20th century Wilhelm Eduard Meier expanded the offering with ready-made high-quality shoes. After World War II the company was rebuilt from ruins by Eduard Meier II who inherited it from his father. To maximize accuracy of fit Meier used a pedoscope to see feet inside shoes. The result of his examinations were his patent-registered "Peduform" shoes. Today the company is led by siblings Peter Eduard and Brigitte Meier (13th generation). Besides shoes, their offering includes sports and classic clothing, leather goods and accessories. In the city of Munich they can be delivered by horse-drawn carriage as in former times.

External links

* {{Coord, 48, 08, 26.9, N, 11, 34, 38.5, E, region:DE-BY_type:landmark, display=title Meier Manufacturing companies based in Munich Bavarian Royal Warrant holders Saxon Royal Warrant holders 1596 establishments in the Holy Roman Empire Companies established in the 16th century Organizations established in the 1590s