Lieblinge

Lieblinge in Gleimviertel: transparent manufactory for barefoot shoes

Lieblinge is located on Schönfließer Straße in the Gleimviertel, approximately 380 meters from the Schönhauser Allee S-Bahn and U-Bahn station, thus on the northern edge of Prenzlauer Berg. The sales room and production are housed in the same building, and this is to be taken literally: the manufactory is transparent, you can watch the seamstresses at work while your own children try on their first shoes next door. The business is run by Nadine Klein, an orthopedic shoe technician specializing in children’s feet, together with her partner Oliver. Both come from the custom shoemaking trade: in 2004, they opened a custom shoemaking business in Berlin, and the brand itself has existed since 2013. The path to barefoot shoes led via Ecuador, where Oliver developed a first series-ready concept around the year 2000. According to their own statements, nearly 20,000 children’s feet were measured and fitted here in 2023 alone, making the shop a permanent address in the neighborhood for first shoes. Schönfließer Straße is quiet enough that a consultation appointment with a toddler does not end in street noise.

Crawlers, first-walkers, and barefoot shoes for adults from Berlin production

Only the in-house brand is offered, produced entirely in Berlin. For children, the assortment is organized by developmental stages, from crawlers to first-walkers to runners, with lines such as Plains, Knots, Desertboots, Felt Booties, and Lambskin Boots. Adults will find barefoot sneakers and slippers made of boiled wool or pure virgin wool, as well as toe spreaders, wool socks, and insoles. A Plains line first-walker shoe costs 69.90 Euros, an Active Knit for adults costs 129.00 Euros. The materials are certified and tested for harmful substances down to the sewing thread; primarily leather and rubber are processed. Those with an unusual foot shape can benefit from Lieblinge’s custom-made shoes, which are offered in super narrow, narrow, and wide widths. For remote orders, there is a size finder and printable measurement sets, but the real strength lies in an on-site consultation where parents and child are advised together. Worn out soles can be extended with an adhesive rubber cap instead of replacing the entire pair. There are no other branches; Schönfließer Straße is the only location.