About The Owners
I was the last person on earth that ever thought I would fall in love from a blind date. But there I was, May 2005, head over heels for this beautiful Swedish girl named Sara. It made no rational sense - she was from across the globe, on a visa for just a few short months - a practical stranger sporting these shoes, these clogs, that were about as foreign to me as her childhood home on the Baltic Sea. Foreign or not, strange or not, we were married less than a year later… and those clogs that she so charmingly introduced me to, became as much a part of my life as they were a part of Sara's heritage.
The summer of 2005 remains the most memorable summer of my life. Sara and I had a blind date in mid-May. After our first date we spent every day together until her U.S. visitor Visa expired in mid-July. The day she left to go home to Sweden was heartbreaking. I was so love-sick during the days following her departure that I immediately planned a trip to Sweden for the end of July.
I was nervous throughout the 10 hour flight to Stockholm, but Sara's enormous smile immediately put me at ease upon arrival. I remember we stayed on a little red boat in the bay for a few days, experiencing all that Stockholm had to offer. After those first Stockholm boat days, we ventured out to explore the eastern coast of Sweden. Our journey ended at the best place of all, her family cottage on the Baltic Sea. It was breathtaking and we were in love.
Intent on making a good impression with my possible future in-laws (I could only hope), I was able to squeeze some time in with Sara's dad (Christer) in the clog factory. Thus began my first clog-making lessons. I was soon stapling bases and cutting leather, but most of all I was enjoying myself (I was in love with his daughter so I probably could have enjoyed, or acted like I was enjoying myself doing anything on that trip). I was surprised by the myriad of different styles and color combinations, as well as Christer's great sense of humor at my bumbling attempts to craft a clog!
When clogs first came up in conversation at the factory Sara told me that they were some of the best shoes in the world for your feet, knees, and back. I laughed and said "quit trying to sell me a pair of clogs… that is just a myth your dad told you". I'm a pretty typical guy, and while I always thought of clogs as a fashion choice, I never realized they were a comfort choice as well.
After returning to America I started to see clogs everywhere! I am an Airline Pilot and was shocked to see how many Flight Attendants and ticketing personnel were wearing clogs. I am sure they had been wearing them all along but I simply never noticed. The comments I heard were always the same; "they are really comfortable" or "I love them". I soon started to believe that there may have been some truth to what Sara had been telling me all along…. Apparently you should always just listen to your wife!
By now you are probably wondering why we waited so long to get into the family business if we thought so highly of it. Well… I have wanted to do this since the first day I saw the factory, but Sara wanted to "cut-the-clog-cord" when she left Sweden. This last October we had our second child. Sara's parents came to America to visit and help out around the house while we got settled in with our new baby. Invariably, the clog business came up in conversation. Sara finally gave me the go-ahead and within 24 hours everything was settled between me and Christer… I would become the Director of Operations and Sales and he would continue to make a quality clog.
Sincerely,
Dave Giese
Director of Sales and Operations