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HISTORY
In 1880, seventeen-year-old Jan Kielman left the family home in the Lomza Province and set out to the world. In Warsaw he learned the cobbler's profession. In 1883 he set up his own studio at ul. Chmielna 3. It was a good time for enterprising people. The firm soon grew to the size of several shop windows at the front and quite a large workshop and warehouses in the annex, where almost a hundred people were employed. Kielman's footwear, despite considerable competition in Warsaw at the time, became known and appreciated. The family was doing better and better. They occupied an apartment on Okolnik, spent vacations abroad, and the children Waclaw and Julia received thorough education. The son graduated from the Commercial Academy in Antwerp, practiced the profession at Bally's in Switzerland, and in 1927 joined the company with his father. His idea was e.g. a brass tub placed in the display window with a waterproof shoe floating inside, and the color neon lighting it, one of the first in Warsaw. Two telephone lines facilitated the placing of orders for regular customers, and beautifully wrapped shoes were delivered to the customers' doorsteps by messenger. In 1938 the firm's founder dies. Soon the war comes. The Germans, although permitting for the operation of the firm, evict the family from the elegant apartment in the ¦ródmie¶cie district. During the Warsaw Rising in 1944 the store, workshop and warehouses burn. Earlier, many local residents and soldiers managed to equip themselves with solid footwear.
After the war Wac³aw Kielman rebuilt a burnt-down store at number 6, vis-a-vis the previous address. From the ashes of the former seat just some tools and lasts were recovered. These included the rather large last of Captain Charles de Gaulle, who ordered jackboots here while visiting Warsaw in 1921. Owing to this finding - when the general became the president of France - a pair of new boots was shipped to him to the Elysée Palace. The new reality, in which we had to work after the war, rather did not bring optimism. Life was marked with constant fear that the firm would not last in the new system. It was legal to hire only two productive employees. Numerous inspections and news from the city about firms closing down one after another induced Wac³aw, uncertain of the future, to consider shutting down the doubtful business. Only the dawn of the somewhat lighter seventies, and the reinforcement of the firm with fresh strength in the person of his son - lawyer by education - Jan II and his wife Leokadia, created new chances for development of the family business. New employees were trained, and contacts were established with manufacturers of improved quality Polish calfskins. Along with the opening of Poland to the world, the firm started winning more and more customers from abroad, and the news of excellent footwear from Warsaw once again crossed the Polish borders. The list of customers kept growing with celebrated names from the world of politics, theater, film, medicine, diplomacy and business. In the mid-nineties the son of Jan II - Maciej - became a partner in the family firm. In spite of the new times he does not intend to switch from handicraft to machine-made production.
The artistry and perfection of Kielman's craftsmen are still esteemed, because they unchangingly guarantee that each pair of shoes shall be exceptional and unique. Grateful to ancestors for the tradition, trustful in our own reason and strength of the young generation, with optimism we march into the new century. Along with the opening of Poland to the world, the firm started winning more and more customers from abroad, and the news of excellent footwear from Warsaw once again crossed the Polish borders. The list of customers kept growing with celebrated names from the world of politics, theater, film, medicine, diplomacy and business.
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Gallery Accessories Orders Leathers Manufacturing Service History |
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