"The world of shoes needs colour."

As declared by Horst Wortmann in 1968. The Wortmann Group's success story shows how right he was.

"The world of shoes needs colour."

As declared by Horst Wortmann in 1968. The Wortmann Group's success story shows how right he was.

Join us on our journey.
Our company history

For more than 50 years, Wortmann has been synonymous worldwide with youthful, fashionable shoes. The Wortmann Group has achieved continuous growth through daring, understanding and an aptitude for business. A journey through time, taking big steps to become a global player in the footwear sector.

  • 1967

    Horst Wortmann establishes Wortmann KG in Detmold, Germany.

  • 1972

    The company now generates a turnover of more than 20 million euros. A new administration building and larger warehouse capacity are set up on the 25,000 m² company grounds. This site remains the company headquarters until the present day.

  • 1974

    Orion Italiana is established and from now on oversees the drop shipping business with key accounts.

  • 1980

    Wortmann takes over Wendel GmbH, Pirmasens.

  • 1984

    The company group exceeds the 100 million euro turnover mark.

  • 1987

    Wortmann takes over the Austrian market leader and operates in Vienna under the Wortmann-Schuhproduktionen Gesellschaft m.b.H.

  • 1990

    With the founding of Caprice shoe production in Pirmasens, Wortmann expands further with the segment fashionable ladies shoes in multi widths. With its own production site in Pirmasens, Caprice also now serves as the company’s innovation centre.

  • 1993

    The Wortmann group acquires shares in NOVI Footwear (Far East) Pte Ltd. in Hong Kong/Singapore. Novi is market leader in the distribution of shoes from the Far East to Europe. The goal of this strategic participation is the greater development of the growth market Asia and the long term securing of the production markets. In the business year 1993 the group generates a turnover of more than 340 million euros.

  • 1996

    Warehouse and administrative areas on the company site, by now 40,000 m², are significantly expanded. Expansion of company headquarters and the new logistics centre is completed after 1.5 years’ building time.

  • 1997

    The Wortmann group achieves a turnover of more than 390 million euros and delivers to more than 15,000 customers throughout Europe.

  • 1999

    The new subsidiary shoe.com becomes licensee for textile brands.

  • 2000

    a+w shoes is established as a joint venture of ara and Wortmann.2002: Launch of the end consumer campaign for the Tamaris brand.

  • 2002

    Launch of the consumer campaign for the Tamaris brand.

  • 2005

    shoe.com acquires the shoe licence for s.Oliver clothing brand. The first Tamaris monobrand store opens in September in Berlin.

  • 2008

     Subsidiaries of Wortmann and Caprice are established in Russia.

  • 2009

    In October Wortmann KG is named best shoe manufacturer of the year by the trade magazine "schuhkurier".

  • 2010

    Wortmann KG awarded “Marketing OWL 2010” by Marketing Club OWL Bielefeld e.V. At the end of the year Wortmann begins operation at its new logistics centre at the company headquarters in Detmold (investment volume: 35 million euros).

  • 2011

    In the best brands study in February, Tamaris comes in third place after Apple and LG in the category “Best growth brand”. In June Wortmann acquires all the shares in a+w shoes which is renamed Jana shoes shortly afterwards.

  • 2013

    In the business year 2012/2013 (as of 31.05.2013) the Wortmann group achieves a turnover of 1,010.6 million euros.