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Giesswein

Austria

What Giesswein is known for

Austrian knitwear and boiled-wool maker founded in 1954 in Tyrol (sources differ on Reith im Alpbachtal vs. Brixlegg); introduced its first boiled-wool slipper in 1974 and remains family-run under a third generation.

Giesswein is an Austrian family company that began producing knitted wool sweaters in 1954. Sources differ on the exact founding town - Giesswein's own US site cites Reith im Alpbachtal, while the company's headquarters today is in Brixlegg, both in Tyrol - but agree on the timeline: through the 1960s and 70s the company grew into Austria's largest knitwear and boiled-wool manufacturer. In 1974 Giesswein introduced its first slipper made from boiled wool, an unplanned success that became the foundation of its present-day product line. The company remains a fully family-owned business, now run by Markus and Johannes Giesswein as the third generation.

Best for — Merino wool shoes

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