Professor Thomsen

 

 

Then something happened, something that had a lasting influence on the Berkemann story till date: From 1950 to 1955, Prof. Dr. Wilhelm Thomsen uses his knowledge to develop the foot gymnastic sandals and market penetration begins. The most outstanding feature of these gymnastic sandals/Gym sandals is the toe grip, which in combination with a small toe belt/strap serves as support for the foot’s muscular system while walking and grasping movement. The gym sandals have their origins in the idea to develop a training device for children, in order to prevent them from using insoles/inserts as adults. The sandals cater to appropriate support of the foot sole, as well as providing support to the muscular structure, which in turn determines the stability of the skeleton. Many parents not only want the very best for their children’s’ feet, infact they wish for the same for their own feet as well and thus steadily increase the demand for the “original sandals”. It is this product that makes the firm world famous in the1960s. “Clacking” prevails all over the world. The “Clackers”, as the wooden sandals were referred to, was infact worn by the German rowing team during the Olympic Games of 1964. The gym sandal-foot bed continues to be a model for the original Berkemann 5-Phase Foot Bed till date, which in turn is a part of all Berkemann shoes.