In 1949, Paul Röseler founded ara Schuhfabriken GmbH together with two partners in Solingen-Ohligs. Out of necessity, the company developed the so called “Klapperschuh” using unconventional materials. Shortly afterwards, the first ara shoes were produced in a former potato bunker at Schützenplatz.

At that time, production reached 200 pairs per day with a workforce of 85 employees.

 

In 1951, ara relocated to Langenfeld and continued to grow steadily. The company also began training its first apprentices.

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In 1954, ara achieved its first major milestone with a daily production of 1,000 pairs of shoes.

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Additional stitching facilities were then established in Lützenkirchen and Lünen.

Additional production capacity was created through the acquisition of the Granit shoe factory in Wermelskirchen, as well as through additional production facilities in Burscheid and Lünen.

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In 1964, Paul Röseler intensified the company’s export activities and founded the first sales subsidiary in Switzerland under the name arex.

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In 1969, the foundation stone was laid in Feldkirchen, Austria, for ara’s first international production site.

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By the early 1970s, ara was producing 9,300 pairs of shoes per day.

In 1973, Robert Röseler, the founder’s son, joined the company and played a key role in shaping its development until his passing in 2010.

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In 1975, shortly after the revolution in Portugal, another international production facility was established in Avintes.

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During this period, ara was also transformed from a GmbH into a public limited company (AG).

By the end of the 1970s, the facilities in Lünen and Feldkirchen, Austria, were further expanded. In 1978, a new administration building was constructed at the company headquarters in Langenfeld, and the existing shipping warehouse was enlarged.

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In 1983, a central materials warehouse was opened in Langenfeld to supply all international production sites.

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By the late 1980s, ara’s second factory in Pedroso, Portugal, began operations.

In 1990, ara laid the foundation for its production site in Indonesia.

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At that time, the company was producing around 28,000 pairs of shoes per day and employed approximately 3,300 people worldwide.

In the early 1990s, ara opened its third production site in Portugal, located in Seia.

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In 1998, the foundation stone was laid for another production facility in Romania.

That same year, the first ara Factory Outlet opened in Lünen with a sales area of 800 square meters.

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During this period, ara also restructured its corporate organization. ara Schuhfabriken AG became the holding company ara AG. Under its umbrella, the ara footwear business was managed through ara Shoes AG, alongside the newly acquired investment in Legero Schuhfabrik Ges.m.b.H.

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At the same time, the employee share model was replaced by the issuance of participation rights.

In 1999, ara celebrated its 50th anniversary. At that time, the company sold 8.2 million pairs of shoes and employed around 3,800 people worldwide.

Throughout the 2000s, additional Factory Outlets were opened in Wermelskirchen and Langenfeld.

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During this period, a logistics center was inaugurated in Feldkirchen, Austria, a second production site was opened in Romania, and a new administration building was completed in Langenfeld in 2003.

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In 2004, ara opened a representative office in China, followed shortly afterwards by the establishment of a trading company.

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In 2006, a new shoe factory was built in Ethiopia. However, the site was later closed again after several years of operation.

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By 2011, the ara Group had surpassed 500 million euros in annual revenue and employed more than 8,000 people worldwide.

The Concept Stores initiative, originally launched in 1993 to establish dedicated ara stores and shop in shops, continued to expand internationally. Each store concept reflects the continuously evolving ara brand identity. Today, more than 500 ara Concept Stores can be found across 27 countries worldwide.

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Starting in 2015, the collections became more modern and increasingly consumer focused. Fashion and function moved to the center of new product development. At the same time, ara remained committed to the core values that have defined the brand since 1949: comfort and perfect fit.

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Features such as multiple widths, ultra lightweight styles, textile uppers, bamboo linings, and contemporary designs continue to shape the modern product collections.

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Some of the standout models include the Fusion4 line with its Dynergy sole and knitted upper, as well as the elegant HighSoft pumps featuring softly cushioned insoles. This HighSoft technology is also used in many other styles within the collection. These successful product lines continue to evolve season after season with new materials and colors.

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At the same time, ara expanded its media presence through campaigns and social media content, including online marketing, city light advertising, and short TV spots.

In 2020, the global COVID-19 pandemic presented ara with major challenges, including months of lockdowns and disruptions to supply chains from Asia.

In response, the ara Group initiated a major transformation process and embraced the situation as an opportunity for change. Within just a few years, the company completely repositioned itself with a clear focus on strengthening its original brand, ara, sharpening its brand identity, and preparing it for the future.

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At the same time, ara accelerated its international expansion as well as the development of both retail and digital sales channels.

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During the pandemic, many new sneaker styles were introduced as part of the collections. These designs responded not only to the rise of the home office lifestyle during lockdowns, but also to a broader shift in how people wanted to feel in their everyday lives.

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More than 75 years of product experience and footwear expertise continue to shape these new developments, combining innovative features with modern new looks.

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This period also marked the launch of the campaign:

ara. Trust your instincts.

At the beginning of 2025, after more than 50 years, ara will move to a new location within Langenfeld. Following a successful interior design with corresponding color concepts, the new building reflects the new ara world.

An important new beginning for the highly motivated ara team and another milestone in ara's history.

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The positive mindset also elevates ara to a new level in terms of product technology, including completely redesigned and highly functional sneaker models such as Motion or Easy2Go…