Founded by Ferdinand Stadler, the grandfather of today's owner Bernhard Stadler, "Stadler Walker" is a shoe manufacturer in Wörgl producing walking and hiking boots sold throughout Europe.
Created using the first letters of the name Ferdinand Stadler, the shoe brand "Festa" was established in the 1930s and quickly gained an excellent reputation among keen hikers and mountaineers throughout Austria. Stadler was not only a fine shoemaker but also a true innovator, creating numerous patents which would shape the design and function of mountain footwear in the decades to come. These days the market for hiking boots is dominated by a handful of global brands, yet despite this intense competition the Stadler family has managed to move with the times and remain a successful small-scale producer of fine alpine footwear. The company is now run by Bernhard Stadler, the third generation, who took over the business from Ferdinand Stadler's two sons Kurt and Alfred.
These shoes are made for walking
Today the company has changed its name from "Festa" to "Stadler Walker" and sells its walking and hiking boots not only across Austria but throughout Europe. The headquarters, however, are still in the small town of Wörgl, where customers can also purchase all of the shoe models available. Though Stadler Walker also sells shoes for leisure and traditional dress, the main focus remains on mountain footwear – a fact reflected by the names given to the different models, such as "Innsbruck", "Ebbs", "Patscherkofel" and "Gerlosberg".
The small selection of leather handbags in the Stadler Walker range also bear names reflecting Austria's imperial past, including "Sabine", "Theresa" and "Sissi".
Created using the first letters of the name Ferdinand Stadler, the shoe brand "Festa" was established in the 1930s and quickly gained an excellent…
