The name Scholl today is synonymous with feet and footcare in over 70 countries throughout the world.

But while the Scholl brand is familiar to many millions of people, few realise that it's named after the company's founder, Dr William Mathias Scholl, a man who made it his life long mission to improve the health, comfort and well being of people through their feet.

This heart-felt fascination with feet, this dedication and drive, formed the foundation of the company and the Dr Scholl spirit and legacy are as much a part of the brand today - 100 years on.

Dr. William Scholl died nearly 40 years ago at the age of 86, but his vision and expertise in foot health and comfort and his understanding of consumer needs in relation to their lifestyles remain at the heart of today’s brand.

Scholl Tecnologies
Gelactiv: absorbs shock to put the bounce back in your step Gelactiv are rightly known as 'shock absorbers for feet' - they incorporate pliable, soothing, supportive gel insole in the heel to cushion every step.
Soft Step: Cushions and allows your feet to breathe Soft Step cushioned insoles are triple layered, to cushion every moment, every step, yet allow feet to breathe.
Fitness: Now you're walking The Fitness range is ideal for avoiding infections associated with communal areas, such as gyms and pools. Anatomically designed to provide the optimum support in all conditions, Scholl Fitness sandals include styles that are anti-bacterial, waterproof and have anti-slip soles.
Exercise: Proven to tone leg muscles by up to 30% The original and renowned Scholl Exercise Sandal. With its contoured beechwood footbed and classic styling, it's been giving feet and legs a gentle workout for more than 40 years. The footbed exercises foot and leg muscles- tones them too - whenever you're walking.
Adapta: schock absorbing comfort that's flexible and supporting Feet enjoy perfect support via a bio-mechanically-designed Adapta footbed, which cradles the all-important arch and absorbs the stresses and impact of walking.
Backguard: Back Guard protection means the foot’s vulnerable outer edge and heel are protected and the spine is shielded from walking impact-ideal when walking on hard surfaces, stairs or striding the city streets.
Professional: Our Professional range features the best of our technologies to help improve your health and well-being through your feet. Comfortable footwear with functional benefits that are designed for medical professionals and people who stand or walk for many hours every day. Through scientific research Scholl offer the top specialist solution to protect and support the foot.
Memory Cushion: Cushions and springs back into shape after every wear Elasticated sections provide gentle comfort with effective support. Memory Cushion absorbs all-day walking pressure, then springs back into shape overnight.
Removable insole: Now you're walking The removable foot bed cradles the all-important foot arch and absorbs the stresses and impact of walking. The insole can be removed, enabling you to add your own customised orthotic.
Massage: Cushions and allows your feet to breathe Massage sandals with their anatomically designed footbeds, gently but firmly invigorate the soles of the feet and key pressure points.

Scholl History

Dr Scholl's story began in Chicago in a small shoe store specialising in comfort and specialist footwear.

The year was 1899 and seventeen-year-old William M Scholl was embarking on what would become a lifelong quest to improve the health and comfort of people through their feet. He was so intrigued by the number of people with painful foot conditions that he enrolled in medical school, determined to understand more fully the human body and specifically the anatomy and physiology of the foot.

Talking to customers and seeing foot problems first hand enabled William to later devise products based on these insights. It was while still a medical student that William made his first invention - the Foot-Eazer - a product designed to correct weakness in the foot arch. Shortly after qualifying in 1904 at the age of 22, he set up his own business and launched the Foot-Eazer, which went on to become one of the most successful product lines in the field of foot healthcare.

Joining forces with his brother, Frank J Scholl, William went on to create a range of remedial and cushioning devices, which eventually covered the whole spectrum of common foot conditions. Besides being a prolific inventor, Dr William M Scholl was also a dedicated teacher and author, and was responsible for many significant events in the history of foot care. In 1912 he founded the Illinois College of Chiropody and Orthopaedics, which became the largest teaching institution in its field in the United States.

In 1913 Scholl was one of the first to offer free foot examinations to the public through its Dr Scholl's Foot Comfort Service Stores; and in 1916 he created an Annual National Foot Comfort Week.

In the 1920s William M Scholl designed a range of comfort shoes - actively promoted by the Foot Comfort Demonstration Service. But it was the 1960s which saw one of the most notable product launches which was to transform the image of the brand. The Scholl Exercise Sandal - known to the public as simply "Scholls" - was to adorn the feet of such celebrities as Twiggy and Jean Shrimpton throughout the 60s and 70s. And, whilst remaining true to the principles of the original model, the new 2004 designs retain that same iconic status for a new generation.

By the 1930s the company had also identified an opportunity to expand its range to the comfort of the legs and began to market a range of compression hosiery for the relief of swollen ankles and varicose veins. But it was more recently in 2001 that the company was again able to demonstrate why it remains at the forefront of its field, launching a range of medically proven compression socks (Flight Socks), in response to the increasing awareness of flight related deep vein thrombosis (DVT)*.

Sadly, Dr William M Scholl died in 1968, aged 86, but his vision and expertise in the area of foot health and comfort and his understanding of consumers and their dynamic lifestyles remain at the heart of the brand. And today, 100 years after the company was founded, Scholl remains synonymous with foot health and comfort in more than 70 countries around the world.