"No more shoes?"

I get emails or messages almost every day asking if and when shoes will be available again...And unfortunately, I have to tell you that I won't be making any new shoes in the future.

I have always doubted whether production in China was the right choice for me, for various reasons.

Meanwhile, factories in Asia are very well managed, salaries are fair and conditions meet European standards. That's why in recent years many well-known shoe companies have moved their production to "even cheaper" countries, such as Ethiopia and the Philippines, and the Chinese manufacturers have suffered huge losses as a result. A crazy, inhumane and very worrying development, in my opinion.

So I didn't have my shoes made in China because it was cheaper there – the production costs now partly correspond to those in Europe – but because that's where the specialists for models with elaborate and detailed designs are located.

Nevertheless, the fashion industry is one of the biggest polluters, vegan shoes are often made of plastic, and the long freight routes by plane are, in terms of sustainability and environmental friendliness, simply no longer acceptable to me.

Unfortunately, I never found a European shoe factory that was willing to produce such small quantities with my typical intricate details. Furthermore, the majority of shoe factories in Europe are still specialized in leather production. There are a few that produce wonderful vegan shoes, but they are outside my financial means.

I am happy and grateful that I at least tried. And I thank you very much for buying my shoes and for wearing them! That still makes me very proud!