From material to product

The development of a shoe begins with an idea. The design, fit concept and technical implementation are developed at our head office in Rosenheim and our factory in Banovce, Slovakia. This is where years of experience, knowledge of foot shapes and a consistent focus on quality and comfort come together.

Our ambition is clear: designing shoes that can be worn season after season.

• We set high standards for product safety, especially regarding harmful substances.
• Our suppliers commit to complying with the CADS Restricted Substances List (RSL).

We ensure comprehensive monitoring for harmful substances through a written, documented process. This multi-stage precautionary concept includes both the systematic evaluation of our suppliers and a detailed procedure for chemical testing. The process varies depending on the type of material. The testing process also covers finished shoes, uppers, and licensed products.

To ensure that our shoes can be worn for a long time, we rigorously test the materials:

• In our own laboratory, we test, among other things, abrasion, stretch, and color fastness.
• Physical and chemical tests ensure the desired performance and durability.

This way, a solid product is created right from the use of the very first material.

Leather is the most commonly used material at Gabor. As a natural product, it is:

• breathable,
• adaptable,
• resistant, and durable.

When sourcing our most important raw material, we follow the internationally recognized standard of the Leather Working Group (LWG). There, the following aspects, among others, are regularly audited:Water and especially wastewater management

• Handling of chemicals
• Energy consumption
• Working conditions in the tanneries

Gabor Shoes GmbH is a member of the LWG, a non-profit organization. All tanneries from which we or our production partners source leather are certified according to the standards of the LWG.

To reduce transport emissions, we rely on regional sourcing: leather is preferably sourced near our production sites. Through our Code of Conduct, we also require our suppliers not to use leather from endangered animal species, thereby complying with the Washington Convention (CITES). The leather used is exclusively a by-product of the meat industry

In addition to leather, we use natural materials such as wool and lambskin. They help provide a pleasant climate for the foot and offer warmth and comfort during the colder season.

In various parts of the shoe, we use materials with recycled content, for example in the lining or removable footbed.

Since the 1990s, we have been cooperating with specialist manufacturers of shoe uppers in the region around Chennai in southeastern India. Here too, quality and decent working conditions are the focus.

Our partnerships are based on a code of conduct that ensures compliance with fundamental human rights. In addition, we rely on recognized social standards and audits, including:

• SA8000
• SMETA
• WRAP

Gabor employees on site support daily quality assurance, gain their own impression of working conditions, and maintain direct contact with our headquarters.