Franz Kälin
shoemaker
Brienz

« When it comes to shoes, almost everything has already been invented. But playing with colors and materials is always fun. »

Franz Kälin was born with shoes: the father of the native of Interlaken was a shoemaker. After the master's exam, however, Kälin took a different path and trained as a social worker. For years he worked as a workshop foreman in a nursery, where he made simple shoes with employees. In 2005, he opened his own workshop in Brienz.

« Today, everything can be bought, but the consumer does not have access to most consumer goods. I want to counter this. »

The shoemaker from Brienz not only repairs and designs shoes in his “Zwickmühle” workshop, but also offers various courses. Each pair of dilemma shoes is completely handmade. Those who take part in a course at the Ballenberg workshop or course center can make their own pair of shoes. Kälin always finds a way to transform the original and individual ideas of the course participants into tailor-made shoes.