STEIFF
He is the best friend and loyal companion of every child: the teddy bear. The cuddly companion comes from the house Steiff, which was founded in 1847 and has always produced soft toys and clothing for children and babies. In time-honoured tradition, then as now, all products of the company Steiff are made by hand from exquisite materials such as mohair and alpaca.
READ MORE
SHOW LESS
STEIFF
How a serious illness becomes the cornerstone of a company empire
The company history of Steiff begins in 1847, when founder Margarete Steiff falls terminally ill with polio. Despite paralysis of her legs and the fact that she can only put weight on her right arm with pain, Margarete Steiff attends a sewing school and graduates at the age of 17. Her two older sisters opened a ladies' tailor shop in 1862, where she worked part-time and which she took over when both siblings left their hometown 8 years later. With her first earned money Margarete buys her own sewing machine and makes garments and household items out of felt. A short time later she is able to employ several seamstresses and discovers the pattern for a small fabric elephant, which she sews into a sewing cushion. However, the "Elefäntle" develops into a very popular children's toy, whereupon more stuffed animals follow. In 1880, Margarete Steiff GmbH is founded, which soon sells over 5000 stuffed elephants and publishes an illustrated Steiffcatalogue showing the company's entire range of animals. Donkeys, horses, dogs, cats and giraffes are presented for the first time at the Leipzig Toy Fair and are made by 4 seamstresses and 10 home workers.
The legendary Steiffteddy bear is born
In 1902 Margarete's nephew Richard Steiff joins the company, having studied at the Stuttgart School of Applied Arts and in England. His animal sketches serve as the basis for many Steiff creations and so it is not surprising that the classic Steiff Teddy Bear comes from his pen. The world's first plush bear "Bear 55 PB" with movable arms and legs is made of soft mohair plush and is presented at the Leipzig Toy Fair the same year and takes the hearts of American toy dealers by storm. Named after the American President Theodor "Teddy" Roosevelt, the Teddy Bear, as he is now known, becomes a sales success. To protect the Teddy Bear from copies and imitations, the trademark - the button in the ear - is developed in 1904. Steiff , by now a global company, produces almost one million Teddy Bears in only one year.
Discover now online and in the LODENFREY store in Munich am Dom children's fashion and stuffed animals from Steiff for children and babies.
A trademark is created - a life comes to an end1909
Margarete Steiff dies as a result of pneumonia
.A heavy blow for the family, but her nephews take over the management of the company and continue Margarete's legacy and dream Steiff. During the war and afterwards, Steiff has to adapt to the available raw materials and adds wooden toys to its range. The tough post-war period is given a new lease of life by mascot Mecki, a puppet character, when the stuffed puppet is produced under licence from Steiff. The teddy bear also experiences a revival for its 50th anniversary and is reissued. In the following decades, Steiff continues to create new stuffed animals and teddy bears, as well as limited editions and special editions, such as in collaboration with Karl Lagerfeld. Meanwhile, the assortment of Steiff includes not only stuffed animals, but also baby and children's fashion, as well as collector's editions and accessories.
Discover now online and in the LODENFREY store in Munich am Dom children's fashion and stuffed animals from Steiff for children and babies.