haflingerUSA
Brand · Clothing
The Haflinger story begins long before the brand we know today. In 1898, Emil Otto Sr., a master of trimmings and braids, founded a small textile workshop in Goslar, Germany. Emil Otto, the great-grandfather of the current CEO, quickly earned a reputation for producing high-quality cords and trimmings. Even then, customers valued natural materials and precise craftsmanship, hallmarks of traditional artisanal quality.
Shortly thereafter, the family business began producing premium socks made from top-quality yarns. During a skiing trip in Austria, Emil Otto stepped out of the ski lodge wearing these wool socks. Naturally, the snow soaked his socks immediately. This experience inspired him to combine the warmth and comfort of felted virgin wool with a durable leather sole – creating the first prototype of a slipper that kept feet both dry and warm.
In 1955, this innovation became the foundation for what we now know as the iconic Haflinger slipper.
Soon, the family workshop began producing additional slippers, initially for well-known manufacturers who sold them under their own brands. These slippers quickly won the hearts and homes of wearers around the world. Over the years, the business expanded, innovated, and introduced new designs, eventually taking the first steps toward establishing the Haflinger brand we know today.
