JALAS® History - Crafting work and safety shoes and boots since 1916
Discover JALAS's rich legacy in crafting high-quality work and safety footwear since 1916. Journey through pivotal milestones that have shaped our heritage, reflecting the essence of craftsmanship, innovation, and unwavering dedication
Based in the village of Jokipii, Finland, our heritage continues to thrive as the proud hub of design, development, and manufacturing. From safety shoes and boots to socks and insoles, each product embodies our signature commitment to quality, comfort, and safety. Step into a tradition of excellence with JALAS, where every pair delivers unparalleled performance and satisfaction.
1916 - Juho Viljanmaa signs the contract to buy the tannery in Jokipii, which is where the JALAS ® brand started. Travelling cobblers are hired to manufacture boots, shoes and other made-to-order leather items.
1923 - More skilled tanners and workers are hired. Production is more mechanised.
1928 - Urho Viljanmaa separates a part of the business with focus on manufacturing shoes.
1934 - Industry is registered as tannery and footwear dealer. Shoepacs, poulaines and sandals are manufactured.
1935 - A shoe store is opened in Jokipii to support the tannery.
1940 - Production start of ski boots, moccasins and winter shoes.
1970 - Production start of sport shoes and ski jumping boots.
1974 - First Polyurethane direct injection machine in use to produce ski boots.
1985 - Focus is shifted to occupational and safety shoes with great benefits from sport shoe manufacturing, after JALAS ® buys the Aaltonen safety- and sport shoe production in December 1984.
1988 - Matti Nykänen wins 3 Gold medals in the Calgary Olympics with JALAS ® ski jumping boots.
1989 - First manufacturer in Europe to develop the shock-absorbing Ergothan insole for safety shoes.
1990 - Extensive automation of production and use of manufacturing robots enable a sharp increase in production volume.
2004 - Annual production volume rises to over 500,000 pairs of occupational and safety shoes. This happens after JALAS ® introduces the 2003 Stabilizator collection. This collection features the world’s first aluminium toe-cap. Short after world lightest Safety shoe was launched JALAS Exalter with 399 grams
2008 - Ejendals buys JALAS ® from the Viljanmaa family.
2012 - JALAS ® is the first safety shoe manufacturer to win the Red Dot design award with its Zenit collection.
2016 - JALAS ® celebrates 100 years young by looking forward to new collections with exciting innovations.
2021 - We continue our sustainability work and JALAS safety shoes are now produced with solar energy.