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JOURNEY THROUGH TIME
The history of Sioux from 1954 to the present day.
In 1954, Sioux was founded by Peter Sapper in Walheim in South Germany. Throughout the company’s history spanning more than 60 years, Sioux has frequently been a forerunner with trends and innovations in the shoe industry. We’d like to take you on a little journey through our history and share with you some of our most important milestones and the development of our traditional shoe brand.
1954
It all starts with an idea: to manufacture moccasins - the traditional, comfortable Native American footwear – for people in this country.
1956
HEK – as he was nicknamed – not only created the iconic logo, but also designed and sketched all the adverts for Sioux up to mid 1960s. As a political cartoonist, he worked for prominent German newspaper such as DIE ZEIT and FAZ among others.
1957/58
“Autoped” - a lightweight, close-fitting slip-on with a skid-proof grooved sole specially designed for drivers, revolutionizes the footwear market. Sioux launches the first driving shoe on the market. Today, this type of shoe is well established. Famous wearers include the “Racing Baron” Huschke von Hanstein and British Formula 1 driver Stirling Moss.
1958
The non-slip nubs conquer the shopping boulevards: Sioux “Intarsia”, the elegant urban moccasin. Sioux is the first company to manufacture a perforated leather sole with rubber nubs – a German invention, not an Italian one, as many people mistakenly believe.
1964
A new lifestyle. Grashopper is a natural moccasin – a shoe offering complete freedom of movement for the toes – heralding the birth of casualwear for the feet. The “Grashopper” model becomes Sioux’s most successful model ever and a true style icon.
1967
The first television advert for the original Grashopper goes on air. Sioux is the first ever shoe manufacturer who takes advantage of this modern medium. The film was shot by Inselfilm, Munich. Michael Ballhaus was both director and cameraman.
1969
From 1968 to 1988, Sioux worked on and off with photographer Franz Lazi from Stuttgart. Lazi’s photographs, presenting the Grashopper and Slopper models, had a great importance for Sioux. Franz Lazi (1922-1998) is regarded as one of the leading photographers for architecture, advertising and design in the 20th century.
1970
The British shoe manufacturer “Clarks” acquires the license for the “Grashopper” from Sioux and sells it under its own brand. The Sioux license agreement with Clarks ends in 1996.
1972
Sioux becomes official supplier to the German Olympic Team – and continues in this role until the Olympic Games in Rio in 2016.
1979
Sioux celebrates its 25th anniversary. Lothar Späth, at that time Minister-President of the German Federal State of Baden-Württemberg delivers the celebratory speech.
1981
After the death of the Sioux founder Peter Sapper, his wife Karin takes over the management of the company.
1998
The men’s footwear brand “Apollo”, featuring classics made in the very best craftsmanship tradition, becomes a fixed part of the Sioux range.
1999
Sioux wins coveted awards - the “Silver Effie” for especially efficient advertising and the “German Footwear and Leather Award” for an exceptional and creative moccasin design.
2004
Sioux celebrates its 50th anniversary with an exhibition of the company’s history. The poster features the logo and long-term mascot.
2014
The German shoe manufacturer Sioux turns 60. The two cult models, the Grashopper and Autoped, appear in new anniversary editions to tie in with the milestone.
2016
The new “Feel the Indian Spirit” campaign is born. The branding combines tradition with craftsmanship, freedom and a sense of belonging with the latest fashion topics.
2019
Til Schweiger, the most famous actor and filmmaker in Germany, creates his first own shoe collections for women and men together with the Sioux design team.
2020
In cooperation with the Stuttgart artist and social media star Tim Bengel, Sioux has developed the first vegan, CO²-neutral and limited-edition sneaker ‚StepOne‘.
