Bavarian shoemaking with a touch of fun
- Bertl makes traditional German shoes, alongside shoe repairs and shoemaking challenges
- Welted and double-stitched boots and shoes are his specialty
- He owns about 300 pairs of shoes, but often walks about barefoot
When Bertl Kreca met a shoemaker and observed the making of made-to-measure shoes for the first time, he grew so enthusiastic about this craft that he decided to learn it. After honing his skills as an apprentice, he took over his former master artisan’s workshop in 1988 and the rest is history. As a truly passionate shoemaker, Bertl works 360 days a year making and repairing shoes. The Haferl shoes and Bertl Classic Boots are his first and most iconic creations to date, showcasing his mastery of the double-stitched technique. This technique makes a shoe particularly robust and waterproof for rougher environments like the Bavarian mountains. A fun fact is that Bertl not only makes shoes for his clients, but also takes on special made-to-measure challenges, such as making a pair of shoes for former Pope Benedict XVI.
INTERVIEW
Welted and double-stitched footwear are both very specialised, high-quality shoe assembly techniques. The first allows a pair to be resoled multiple times without damaging the upper leather, while the latter is mainly used for robust shoes.
Building a pair of shoes takes a significant amount of time. I estimate that each Haferl shoe, a traditional German Alpine shoe, requires between 25 and 40 hours of work to be completed.
To me, it means creating a product that is durable, repairable, and ages beautifully. I take pride in making something that everyone needs.
In an age of cheap shoes, people rarely have their shoes repaired anymore.
