Our Founder William Mathias Scholl wanted to understand the structure and biomechanics of the feet in relation to the body - and his passion and values are still alive for us today.
The story begins in Chicago in 1899, when 17-year-old William started working in a small shoe store specializing in comfortable shoes. He was so intrigued by the plethora of foot-wear clients that he enrolled at a medical school to get a better understanding of the foot.
Shortly after his approval in 1904 at the age of 22, he patented his first invention: the Foot-Eazer. At the time, it was a revolutionary product: an insert to support the arch of the foot, which was inserted into the shoe. In 1907 he founded Scholl Manufacturing Co. Inc.
Science has always been at the heart of the invention and development of its products. In 1912, William Scholl founded the Illinois College of Chiropody and Orthopedics in Illinois, which soon became the premier educational institution in the United States.
In the 1920s, he created the first range of shoes that took into account the anatomy of the foot. 10 years later Dr. Scholl compression stockings that bring relief to swollen ankles and varicose veins. And in the 1940s, the insoles of Dr. Ing. Scholl developed and marketed, which soon became one of the company's bestsellers.
The big boom came in the 1960s. Scholl developed the Pescura sandal with its anatomically shaped beechwood footbed, which shapes the legs with every step. When models such as Twiggy and Jean Shrimpton showed off Pescura, the shoe quickly became an international success and a style icon and symbol of comfort.
William Scholl died in 1968 at the age of 86 years. He left his life goal to the company as his legacy: "How can one improve the comfort, health and well-being of people by taking care of their feet?" And even today, the feet of the world are the center of our attention.
On the occasion of Scholl's centenary, we have unveiled a new brand identity, a new generation of foot care products and a range of footwear that offers maximum comfort while being fashionable and innovative.
We introduced our new footwear collection, developed by major Italian designers and available at the shoe stores on the main shopping streets. With a balance of style, comfort and technology, she has everything Scholl stands for.
Even today, we share the same passion and philosophy as our founder - to improve the health, comfort and well-being of people by taking care of their feet.
