Trippen Shoes

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Trippen Shoes: Sculptural Boots & Sandals Handmade in Germany

Every good shoe should start in a backyard workshop, and this one does. Before Trippen existed, master shoemaker Michael Oehler was hand-building one-of-a-kind shoes in a courtyard workshop in Berlin’s Kreuzberg neighborhood, drawing on his background in orthopedic footwear. Angela Spieth, a trained clothing designer from Altdorf near Stuttgart, was designing shoes for a mid-sized factory in Germany’s Odenwald region and had already picked up shoe-industry experience in Asia.

The Find

Then came the find. On a research trip to a traditional shoe-last factory, the two stumbled onto a curiously shaped wooden sole from the 1970s, and they saw a whole future in it. They named their new label Trippen, the old German word for pattens: the chunky wooden overshoes people strapped on in the Middle Ages to keep their long, pointy-toed poulaines out of the mud.

The Debut

Trippen launched in newly reunified Berlin in the early 1990s, and its very first collection, around 60 wooden shoes, debuted not in a showroom but in a Berlin art gallery. That tells you most of what you need to know.

These shoes have always been part sculpture, part Trojan workhorse.

The Factory

In 1998 the founders moved production into a former East German shoe factory in Zehdenick, Brandenburg, about 60 kilometers north of Berlin. The crew grew from around 30 people to nearly 100, working in small teams, and Oehler still knows each one’s particular skills.

The Family

Today Trippen is a family affair: Michael Oehler designs alongside Claudia Hoess, with their son Karl bringing a new generation’s point of view.

FoundedEarly 1990s, Berlin
Made inZehdenick, Germany
SignatureSculptural undercut soles
Archive1,600+ models
Trippen Clearance Looking for More Trippen?

Our Trippen clearance shelf often holds more styles and sizes than you’ll find here, from past-season boots to sculptural sandals, all at reduced prices. Same handmade soles, friendlier price tags.

Shop Trippen Clearance →

What are Trippen shoes known for?

Trippen is known for sculptural soles that look like nothing else on the shoe wall. The founders took cues from traditional Japanese platform soles, where simplicity and function have gone hand in hand for centuries, and turned them into their own signature: an undercut sole that seems to float the foot just off the ground. It became a cult favorite almost overnight.

Who wears Trippen?

Trippen’s fan club is as eclectic as the shoes. Back in the ’90s, when sneakers at the office were still a fashion crime, Trippen was among the first labels outfitting Belgian and Japanese avant-garde designers with shoes that were both eye-catching and comfortable. The brand has collaborated with Issey Miyake, built hand-glued shoe sculptures for Iris van Herpen’s runway, and turned up on screen in Star Trek and 300: Rise of an Empire, plus on the dancers of Madonna’s Rebel Heart tour.

Closer to home, Trippen people tend to be women who’d rather have one great pair than five forgettable ones, and who like a shoe that starts a conversation.

Meet the Sole Families

Trippen works a bit like a big, eccentric family. Each named sole family, including Happy, Box, Sport, Closed and Cup, stays in the line year after year, and every season brings new uppers to sit on top. The brand’s archive now holds more than 1,600 models, so there’s always a cousin you haven’t met yet.

Happy → Box → Sport → Closed → Cup →

Tap a sole family to shop it, clearance pairs included.

Are these shoes comfortable?

Yes, and that’s no accident. Comfort and foot health have been part of Trippen from day one, thanks to Michael Oehler’s orthopedic footwear training. The shapes may look like modern art, but they’re built around the foot first, for long walks, long days and actually living in, not just admiring on a shelf.

Are Trippen shoes sustainable?

Trippen was founded during the sustainability movement of the early ’90s, and its rustic, honest materials show it. The leather is vegetable-tanned, sourced from cows raised in the French Alps and tanned at an Italian tannery.

The wood for its soles (alder, poplar and beech) comes from European suppliers. Trippen keeps experimenting with recycled and partly compostable rubbers to cut the petroleum in its soles, and its t-project won the 2024 Green Product Award for shoes.

The brand’s motto is simple: choose well, buy less. Many Trippen soles are stitched rather than glued, so they can be replaced, and Trippen offers a lifelong repair service to keep a favorite pair going for years.

Where can I get some Trippen shoes?

Evie Lou carries a hand-picked selection of Trippen online and in our boutique, where you can try the soles for yourself (trust us, you’ll want to feel the difference). Find us on the locations & hours page, or wander through more of our boots and sandals.

New Trippen styles arrive in seasonal drops, so the lineup changes through the year. If a pair catches your eye, it’s worth grabbing it while your size is still on the shelf.

How do these shoes fit?

Trippen is sized in European numbers. Because the shapes vary so much from style to style, fit can feel a little different from one pair to the next, so try before you commit if you can. If you’re new to the brand or between sizes, call or stop by and our stylists will help you find your number.

How should I care for Trippen shoes?

Treat them like the heirlooms they’re meant to be. Vegetable-tanned leather develops a rich patina as it’s worn, so a little scuffing is just character. Keep the leather nourished with a good conditioner, let pairs rest between wears, and when the soles finally wear down, don’t toss them. Trippen shoes are made to be repaired.

Why wear Trippen?

Because life’s too short for boring shoes. Trippen is part medieval history, part Berlin art scene, and part orthopedic workshop, and it all comes together in a pair you’ll wear, and wear for years.

If you love the sculptural layering of Rundholz or the edgy structure of Pluslavie, Trippen is the shoe that finishes the look. Pair a Trippen boot with wide-leg casual pants or a Rundholz tunic, and you’ve got an outfit with a story from top to toe.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who founded Trippen?

Trippen was founded in Berlin in the early 1990s by master shoemaker Michael Oehler and designer Angela Spieth. Today Michael Oehler runs the family business with co-designer Claudia Hoess and their son Karl.

Where are Trippen shoes made, again?

Trippen shoes are made in Germany, in the brand’s own factory in Zehdenick, Brandenburg, about 60 kilometers north of Berlin. Trippen took over the former East German shoe factory in 1998.

What does the name Trippen mean?

Trippen is the German word for pattens, the wooden overshoes worn in the Middle Ages beneath long, pointed poulaine shoes. It’s a nod to the 1970s wooden sole that inspired the brand.

Can Trippen shoes be repaired?

Yes. Trippen designs its shoes to last, with many soles stitched rather than glued so they can be replaced, and the brand offers a lifelong repair service.

What sizes do Trippen shoes come in?

Trippen uses European sizing. Fit can vary from style to style, so contact Evie Lou or visit our boutique, and our stylists will help you find the right size.

Shop the latest Trippen styles from our new arrivals, or browse the full collection above.