Klaveness Footwear

What Klaveness Footwear does

Klaveness Footwear is a Norwegian family-owned orthopaedic footwear company founded in 1970, headquartered in Sandefjord, Norway, with a wholly owned manufacturing subsidiary, Klaveness SA, in Avintes, Portugal. The company designs and produces medical, rehabilitation, custom-made, comfort, slipper, and bunad (Norwegian folklore) footwear, built on a proprietary last library with anatomically shaped forms delivering extra width and volume fitting for Nordic foot morphology. Core medical and rehabilitation lines are CE-marked Class I devices under EU MDR 2017/745, with patented technologies including a twistable Ice Sole stud, a Velcro adjustment system with return tunnel, a Spring System for biomechanical propulsion, and a Carbon Spring System for gait-controlled energy return; selected styles integrate Vibram outsoles, BOA Fit System closures, PrimaLoft insulation, and W-tex waterproof membranes.

The company operates a pure B2B wholesale model and does not sell directly to end consumers. Medical, rehabilitation, and custom-made footwear are distributed exclusively through partner orthopaedic clinics in Nordic countries and internationally, where clinicians prescribe and fit the products to patients with diabetes, rheumatism, arthritis, bunions, and post-surgical needs. Comfort, bunad, and slipper collections are distributed through selected shoe retail stores in Nordic markets. Pricing is confidential and accessible only via a registered professional partner portal, with a Sales/Product Specialist field team conducting minimum three-day travel weeks and two clinic visits per day during peak seasons. Footwear is supported by dedicated digital tools including a "Find Your Fit" last selection service, downloadable seasonal catalogues, and separate website channels (klaveness.no for medical and comfort, klavenessbunadsko.no for folklore), alongside brand presence on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Klaveness reports approximately 200 skilled employees, the bulk of production being handled at the Portuguese facility where over 35 percent of electricity is self-generated through solar panels. The company operates sales offices servicing Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark, with international clinic partners extending reach beyond the Nordics. The 2019 turnover was NOK 130 million; no subsequent revenue disclosure is available in the input.

Name

Klaveness Footwear

Legal name

Klaveness Footwear

Website

https://klaveness.no

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Klaveness Footwear is a Norwegian family-owned orthopaedic footwear company (founded 1970) that designs and manufactures CE-marked medical, rehabilitation, custom-made, comfort, and bunad footwear, distributing exclusively B2B through orthopaedic clinics and selected Nordic retailers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Orthopaedic Footwear

NAICS

Footwear Manufacturing (3162), Footwear Manufacturing (31621), Footwear Manufacturing (316210)

SIC

Orthopedic, Prosthetic & Surgical Appliances & Supplies (3842), Footwear, (No Rubber) (3140)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty & Orthopedic Footwear Manufacturing (Medical/Diabetic/Custom) (IMAOAIAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Comfort, Orthopedic & Medical Footwear (CRAAACAG), Footwear Components & Materials (Uppers, Soles, Laces, Insoles) (CRAAACAK), Foot Care & Orthotics OTC (Corn/Callus Care, Insoles, Athlete’s Foot Treatments) (CRADAMAL)

Keywords

• Orthopaedic footwear
• Medical stock shoes
• Custom-made footwear
• Rehabilitation footwear
• Comfort footwear

Headquarters

HQ city

Sandefjord

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Wholesale footwear sales: B2B wholesale model selling to orthopaedic clinics and shoe retailers. Products sold through registered professional customer accounts with exclusive pricing and order access.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Klaveness Footwear designs, manufactures, and supplies orthopaedic footwear collections including Medical Stock Shoes (MSS), Rehabilitation, Individual/Custom-Made, Comfort, Bunad/Folklore, and Slippers, all built on anatomically shaped lasts with extra width and volume for Nordic feet. Products are sold exclusively through B2B channel partners: orthopaedic clinics for medical-grade collections and selected shoe retail stores for comfort and lifestyle collections. The company holds CE-marked medical device certification under EU MDR 2017/745 and operates its own manufacturing facility in Avintes, Portugal.

Product overview

Klaveness Footwear is a Norwegian orthopaedic footwear company offering a multi-collection portfolio spanning Medical Stock Shoes (MSS), Rehabilitation, Individual/Custom-Made Footwear, Comfort, Slippers, and Bunad (Norwegian Folklore) collections. The MSS collection includes stock medical shoes like ORTHO, THOR, FREE, NEMO TN, SISU, YDA, CAIRN, and TRACER lines sold through orthopaedic clinics. The Rehabilitation range features NÅBLING, NEW REHAB, and orthotic-specific lasts. Individual footwear is built on custom-designed lasts. The Comfort collection offers everyday shoes like FRY, FRIDA, ANITA, THEA, and PerfectStride sneakers with features like BOA Fit System and water-repellent materials. The Bunad collection provides traditional Norwegian footwear including KLARA boots, GERT, and heritage shoes with interchangeable buckles. All collections share a common philosophy of extra width and volume fitting based on anatomically shaped lasts, with most products featuring removable footbeds for orthotic accommodation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Klaveness Bunadsko: Dedicated shop for bunad (Norwegian traditional folklore) footwear.

Products and services

• Medical Footwear (MSS - Medical Stock Shoes) Stock medical shoes designed for patients requiring orthopaedic care, available in Nordic and worldwide partner orthopaedic clinics. Includes features like removable footbeds, wide fits, and CE marking per EU MDR 2017/745. Distributed exclusively through orthopaedic clinic partners.
• Rehabilitation Footwear Specialized footwear for rehabilitation purposes, designed for patients recovering from foot conditions or injuries. Features extra depth, wide toe boxes, and accommodation for custom orthotics. Sold through orthopaedic clinic partners.
• Individual/Custom-Made Footwear Bespoke footwear built on custom-designed lasts to meet individual patient needs, including custom foot orthotics integration. Available through orthopaedic clinic partners in Nordic and international markets.
• Custom Sandals & Foot Orthotics Custom-built sandals and foot orthotics designed for individual foot shapes and medical requirements. Available through orthopaedic clinic partners.
• Bunad Collection (Norwegian Folklore Footwear) Traditional Norwegian bunad footwear including heritage lace-up boots, moccasins, and folklore shoes made from high-quality calf leather with traditional buckles and decorative elements. Distributed through selected shoe retail stores in Nordic markets.
• Comfort Collection Everyday comfort footwear including sneakers, slip-ons, and casual shoes designed for all-day wear with features like water-repellent materials, BOA Fit System, and shock-absorbing soles. Distributed through selected shoe retail stores.
• Slippers Indoor and outdoor slippers including wool felt slippers with sheep fur insulation and Thermofelt soles for warmth and comfort. Distributed through selected shoe retail stores.

Quantifiable outcome

• Sustainability: Over 35% of electricity self-generated through solar panels at Portuguese production facility
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Optima Molliter S.r.lcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOptima is a collaboration partner for the YDA (Your Diabetic Activity) shoe collection. Optima is widely known for high-quality treatment shoes for people with acute diabetes. Klaveness distributes Optima YDA sneakers which feature patented Spring System technology for force redistribution and foot propulsion.
• Orthopaedic Clinics NetworkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNordic and international orthopaedic clinics serve as primary distribution channel for Medical, Rehabilitation, and Individual footwear. Clinics provide professional fitting services and prescribe appropriate footwear for patients with foot conditions.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Propét: American comfort and orthopedic footwear brand serving diabetic, arthritic, and swollen-foot patients. Uses wide/extra-wide lasts with removable insoles, directly comparable to Klaveness's extra-width medical stock line.
• Aetrex: US comfort and orthotic footwear brand with multiple width options and removable footbeds, distributed through specialty retail and clinical partners. Overlaps directly with Klaveness on width-graduated medical/comfort positioning.
• Drew Shoe: US manufacturer of comfort and therapeutic footwear with removable footbeds for orthotic accommodation. Sells through independent shoe retailers and specialty medical channels similar to Klaveness's Comfort and Medical distribution.
• Finn Comfort: German manufacturer of orthopaedic and comfort footwear distributed globally through medical and specialty retail. Closely comparable to Klaveness in last-based construction, removable footbeds, and clinical channel distribution.
• Vionic: Global comfort footwear brand with biomechanical footbed technology, sold through specialty retail and podiatry channels. Comparable to Klaveness on clinical endorsements, biomechanical differentiation, and wide-fit positioning.
• Orthofeet: US-based orthopedic footwear brand with diabetic, arthritis, and plantar fasciitis specialty lines sold through D2C and clinician channels. Direct competitor in the medical-comfort footwear category.
• Waldläufer: German comfort footwear brand focusing on extra width, soft materials, and removable footbeds for orthotic wearers. Comparable product positioning to Klaveness's Medical and Comfort collections.
• Dr. Comfort (DJO Global): American diabetic and orthopedic footwear brand owned by DJO. Sold through orthotic and podiatry professionals with a strong focus on diabetic foot care, closely paralleling Klaveness's MSS line.
• Mephisto: French walking and comfort footwear brand with handcrafted construction and patented shock-absorbing soles. Compares to Klaveness on craftsmanship positioning, biomechanical comfort features, and European clinical channel sales.

Broad incumbents

• Birkenstock: Iconic German comfort/orthopedic footwear brand with global mass-market distribution. Larger and broader than Klaveness but competes in the same anatomically-shaped footbed category and increasingly in medical foot care.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php?id=61573803876440
• LinkedInpt.linkedin.com/company/klaveness
• Instagraminstagram.com/Klaveness_footwear
• Xx.com/klavenessshoes

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Klaveness Footwear