We like to be cosy and warm, especially in winter. What certainly doesn't fit into the programme are cold feet. If you want to solve this problem once and for all, Günter and Marion Hartl in Zillertal have the answer. For decades, they have been making the most traditional of all slippers from felt, merino wool and loden cloth. What may sound a little outdated has long been a cult favourite in this country. The Doggln have even been seen on the Paris catwalk.
Farm women in Tyrol once made new shoes from old, tattered loden clothes - long before anyone knew what "upcycling" actually meant. The fabrics were glued together with rye paste, a mixture of flour and water. This gluing technique is still used at Hartl today. The shoemaker family is now in its fourth generation of using this special manufacturing technique.
The Doggl is not only characterised by handwork and high quality. As a purely natural product, it is also sustainable - once removed, it can be thrown into the compost without hesitation. After all, many a garden is fertilised with sheep's wool. The personalised embroidery and a selection of fashionable colours, which are available in addition to the classic loden fabrics, leave no room for a dusty image.
To create a Doggl, four layers of whale and loden fabric are repeatedly glued together. These layers are sewn to the inner sole made of triple-layered merino wool and then covered with high-quality loden as the outermost layer. The felt sole made from pressed merino wool is glued, pressed and sanded. Finally, the tongue of the classic low shoe doggl is cut out and decorated with a border. In total, it takes around 6 to 8 hours to make a pair.
Of course, this traditional product is not cheap, but the dogglasses have a lifespan of up to 20 years. They are made exclusively from natural materials, which are odour-neutralising and have the ability to clean themselves. The Doggl comes in three shapes - the traditional ankle-high Urdoggl, the most popular low shoe and the open-back slipper. Whichever shape you choose, the Doggl is best worn barefoot and moulds to your foot over time. With an additional rubber sole, you can use them outdoors without any problems. If you choose the version made from Zillertal loden, it is even weatherproof and waterproof.
