About Us

Our heritage

ECCO began as a response to uncompromising footwear. More than 40 years ago in the small southern Jutland town of Bredebro, Denmark, Karl Toosbuy pioneered a revolution in footwear, choosing comfort over conformity. Tired of having his feet mold to his shoes, he charged that the foot should lead the shoe. A new type of footwear was born, crafted both by hand and "by heart".

At ECCO, we don't compromise. Comfort, flexibility, Scandinavian design, and thriving innovation lead the way—shaping how we build our shoes and grow our company.

Quality and craftsmanship make our shoes famous and create loyal fans who prize their comfort and value. Choose ECCO and, like many, you may never choose to wear any other shoe. Our customers know that if you want a comfortable shoe that does not compromise with trends, time, or comfort, then ECCO is the right choice.

Design

ECCO approaches design a little differently. We design from the inside out: inside every comfortable shoe is a foot. Outside, you'll find inspiration from nature and fashion trends, the simplicity of Scandinavian design, environmental circumstances, and all the ways you run through the day. That's all important. We respond with shoes that take you from work to play, from casual Friday to tee time on Saturday and back through that great hiking trail on Sunday. We design our shoes to live up to all your functional needs. And inside it all is a comfortable foot.

To better build for comfort, we reinvented how shoes should fit. Conventional shoes fit across your feet at the toes, restricting the way your toes spread as you walk. ECCO's "Freedom Fit" fits from heel to instep, allowing toes to spread naturally to better support your weight and foster a more comfortable walking experience.

In this manner, ECCO's design philosophy embraces innovation—and tradition. European design is all about advanced materials, high performance, and beautiful styling. We explore and create at the nexus of these goals. Our award-winning designers draw inspiration from life around us, our heritage, and new materials to make every shoe a work of art that puts technology at the service of nature.

Technology

ECCO designs footwear to meet your needs. Whether you're taking the stairs, walking 36 holes, or scrambling over rocky slopes, ECCO delivers superior fit, durability, support, and flexibility. Our advanced construction techniques and continuous exploration in materials science add up to comfort you can count on. You'll notice the difference immediately—and at the end of an intense hike or after walking a dozen blocks uptown, you'll continue to appreciate the difference of ECCO.

For more information on ECCO technology please visit: http://www.ecco.com/int/en/aboutus/technology/index.jsp

Social responsibility

ECCO was founded on a singular philosophy. Just as Karl Toosbuy charged that the foot should lead the shoe and that comfort needn't be a luxury, we continue to believe that when something doesn't feel right, we have the power and purpose to improve it. Over the past four decades, we've grown from our roots as a small Danish company into the world's seventh largest shoe brand. With that growth comes responsibility. We believe it is our responsibility and in our power to be a good corporate citizen.

No matter where in the world ECCO operates, we work by clear principles that stipulate that we will behave in a correct and decent manner. We bring this belief to employee relations, environmental impact considerations, and to our interactions with business partners. As Karl Toosbuy advocated, "ECCO is a guest in each of the countries in which it operates and shall as such respect the culture of the country". The respect for other people and cultures is deeply rooted in our company. As a large employer, ECCO understands its responsibility and accepts it.

ECCO develops business strategies and operates in a way to ensure sustainable development and environmental stewardship. We've developed technologies that reduce the use of materials and energy resources, minimize waste, prevent excess pollution, and recycle waste from production units. Together, these tactics help to minimize our overall environmental footprint.