Giesswein
Rated: Great
Price: $$
Location: Austria
Quick verdict
Giesswein is best for consumers seeking comfortable, natural-fiber everyday shoes and slippers backed by 70 years of Austrian manufacturing heritage. The brand stands out with 100% in-house Austrian production, pioneering water recycling since 1997 (90% of production water), zero textile waste, and 100% renewable energy. The main caveat is that there are no formal labor certifications, no Code of Conduct, and no confirmed living wage policy despite manufacturing in low-risk Austria. Limited transparency beyond general sustainability claims.
Key info
- Headquarters
- Brixlegg, Tyrol, Austria
- Founded
- 1954
- Product categories
- Shoes, Slippers
- Price range
- $$
- Key certifications
- OEKO-TEX Standard 100 (socks), Mulesing-free wool
Giesswein sustainability rating
Our ratings are based on a scale from 1 (We Avoid) to 5 (Excellent). How we rate
Rating breakdown
The primary material is mulesing-free merino wool from small farms meeting high animal welfare standards. The brand also innovates with biodegradable mushroom leather, eucalyptus fibres, recycled PET, natural rubber, and cork. EVA soles and EcoOrthoLite footbeds feature in many models. However, there is limited third-party verified organic/recycled content, and leather and down appear in some products.
All manufacturing is 100% in Austria, a low-risk country with strong labor protections and ~150 employees at the Brixlegg facility. However, there is no evidence of a formal Code of Conduct and no evidence of living wage guarantees. No SA8000, Fair Trade, or similar labor certifications exist. Supply chain tracing covers "most" of the chain.
Strong operational credentials: water recycling since 1997 (Austria's first textile water recycling site, recovering 90% of water with no chemical additives), 100% renewable energy, and zero textile waste with all offcuts recycled. An AutoStore robotic warehouse with 31 robots improves energy efficiency. However, there is no published carbon footprint data, no emissions reports, no science-based targets, and there is no evidence of meaningful action to reduce hazardous chemicals.
The brand is open about Austrian manufacturing and family ownership, and shares general sustainability principles. However, it does not publish factory lists, impact reports, CO₂ data, water usage figures, or detailed supply chain mapping. Transparency gaps remain.
Merino Runners at ~$139 are pricier than Allbirds Wool Runners (~$98), but the Austrian manufacturing provenance justifies some premium. Slippers at ~$60–90 are competitive with Haflinger and Glerups. Free worldwide shipping, free returns, and a 1-year exchange policy add significant value. Machine-washable shoes offer practical appeal.
What they do well
- 100% Austrian manufacturing: all production in-house in Brixlegg, Tyrol, which is rare in fashion and minimises shipping emissions while ensuring quality control
- Pioneering water recycling since 1997, recovering up to 90% of production water with no chemical additives: Austria's first textile water recycling facility
- Zero textile waste with all production scraps 100% recycled and reused
- Material innovation beyond traditional wool: developing mushroom leather, eucalyptus fibre, and recycled PET products while maintaining core wool expertise
- 100% renewable energy powering the entire production facility
Room for improvement
- No third-party labor or sustainability certifications: No B Corp, SA8000, Fair Trade, or similar. No formal Code of Conduct. For a brand positioning itself as sustainable, this is a significant gap, even though Austrian labor laws are strong.
- Transparency is limited: No published impact reports, carbon footprint data, factory lists, or living wage guarantees.
- Animal welfare concerns for some consumers: While wool is mulesing-free, the use of leather and down in some products limits appeal to vegan consumers and lowers the brand's animal welfare credentials.
About Giesswein
Giesswein was founded in 1954 by Walter and Elisabeth Giesswein in the Austrian Alps, initially producing knitted jumpers before becoming Austria's largest manufacturer of boiled wool in the 1960s–70s. The iconic boiled wool slipper launched in 1974 and has sold over 50 million pairs—in 2017, the brand pivoted to modern lifestyle shoes with a successful Kickstarter campaign for Merino Runners. Now run by third-generation brothers Markus (CEO) and Johannes Giesswein.
The material approach centres on mulesing-free merino wool processed using proprietary 3D Stretch boiled merino fabric. The brand also uses EVA soles, EcoOrthoLite footbeds, natural rubber, cork, and is developing mushroom leather and eucalyptus fibres. All materials pass through the single Brixlegg facility where 90% of water is recycled, zero textile waste is generated, and 100% renewable energy powers production.
Giesswein holds OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification for socks but lacks broader certifications like B Corp, GOTS, or Fair Trade. The absence of formal labor standards is a gap, though Austrian manufacturing law provides baseline protections. Ecothes has reviewed them positively, noting the water recycling and renewable energy credentials.
Shipping is free worldwide with free returns in the US, UK, and EU. A 1-year exchange guarantee is offered. Products ship to the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, UK, EU, and select other countries. Pricing positions Giesswein above Allbirds (Merino Runners ~$139 vs. Allbirds ~$98) but the Austrian manufacturing provenance provides differentiation. Slippers at ~$60–90 compete with Haflinger (~$50–85) and Glerups (~$75–95). Trustpilot ratings vary significantly: 4.5/5 for the US store (4,400+ reviews) versus 3.3/5 for the EU/UK store (11,300+ reviews), with EU complaints focused on shipping and returns.
Product highlights
Merino Runners
Flagship merino wool sneakers with 3D Stretch technology, removable merino footbed, EVA sole
~$139–159
The product that modernised the brand; machine-washable, can be worn sockless
Wool Trail X / Wool Peak
Hiking/outdoor sport shoes with waterproof merino wool uppers
~$179–249
Among very few natural-fibre hiking shoes on the market
Dannheim / Neudau Slippers
Iconic boiled wool house slippers with natural rubber soles
~$60–90
The product Giesswein is historically famous for, 50M+ pairs sold since 1974
Merino Slides
Slides with recycled polyester knit straps, cork footbed with merino lining
~$89–109
Expands into summer/sandal category while maintaining sustainable materials
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