Introduction The origins of bugatti shoes date right from 1928: at that time the master shoemaker and grandfather of the current owner Tim Torsten Müller, Johann Müller, founded the „Workshop Johann Müller for Handcrafted Shoes“ in the Westphalian town of Schwelm (Germany). The Müller company's products from Schwelm soon became the perfect example for high-quality footwear made in old craft tradition. And thus products from bugatti shoes stands till this day for perfect fit and above-average material quality and altogether high-grade workmanship at fair prices. To guarantee the fit of our shoes, all lasts of bugatti shoe styles are developed by a famous GermanItalian last-manufacturer. In production, exclusively high-quality leather is used. Wherever possible, bugatti shoes are based on traditional designs (e.g.: hand-sewed San Crispino and Moccassins, real Sacchettos or Goodyear Welted). For fresh styling and the huge number of the collections for which bugatti shoes also stands, both the efforts of our trend scouts and the creativity of our international design team are responsible. Who stands, actually, behind bugatti shoes? bugatti shoes belongs to the AstorMueller group, which has its headquarters in the Swiss town of Hünenberg. It is an enterprise which is specialized in the development of high-quality ladies and men´s leather shoes. Today the group directly employs 160 employees, indirectly there are about 10,000 people working in the worldwide production companies. CEO and sole owner is Tim Torsten Müller, Switzerland. Is there any connection with the car brand "Bugatti"? No, the similarity of the name is by pure chance, bugatti shoes have no connection with the car producer. The fashion brand "bugatti" belongs to the German Brinkmann-group, whose headquarters are in Herford. Since the year 2000 the AstorMueller group holds the exclusive licence for the production and the distribution of bugatti shoes. The licence that Brinkmann awarded to our company is for an unlimited period – unique in the branch – and is provided with an 11-year-long notice period. What does the name "bugatti" mean? It is simply a pure proper noun which has no certain meaning. The best known bearer of the Italian surname "Bugatti" was undoubtedly the French sports-car designer coming from Milan, Ettore Bugatti. The shoes from bugatti still stand also for the worth "quality" and „sporty elegance“. Where and by whom are bugatti shoes designed? Behind the development of the collections from bugatti shoes stands an international team of shoe designers who work together from Switzerland, Spain, Italy and Germany. Besides, they are supported by experienced trend scouts who are always on the move in the big metropolises so as to always have their finger on the pulse of international fashion trends. All bugatti shoes-designs are exclusive proprietary developments, which aim for the mainstream. This approach represents one of the key basic principles of the AstorMueller group. 1 Where are bugatti shoes produced? An important subject. The products from bugatti shoes are produced about 90% in India and about 10% in China. If Italy was seen even earlier as a “Mecca” of shoe production, India has reached today high standards which allow us to produce our shoes there with a good conscience. In this matter, European quality standards are applied, which are supervised constantly by the experts of our Quality Management directly on site. Leather and soles are supplied from time to time from Europe. Some components which are not visible from outside, such as, for example, insoles or pastes, come from Germany, in order to guarantee a uniform high-grade standard. How exactly are the above mentioned quality standards defined? To guarantee always the same quality of our shoes, there is a whole package of measures which fixes certain standards of procedure. Some examples: - Before a shoe finally goes into production, a sealed pattern of the new bugatti shoe style from the factory must be given to the head of our European Quality Management; only after his release can the production begin. Thereby is guaranteed that all our requirements are really observed within the scope of the production process. - Each of our shoe models is made according to a detailed production plan, so to speak, the "recipe" for the production of a shoe. - Even for cutting the leather there are detailed regulations; the fitted leather pieces are immediately provided with a serial number which assigns each piece of leather to a certain shoe. That way we avoid that a pair of shoes shows different leather qualities. - Also for the joining of the single leather parts there are specific norms. - The same applies for "making assembly", that means the joining or the cementing of the upper eather to the sole. - Finally, also the finishing (cleaning, polishing, brushing, sealing, impregnating) proceeds under exact rules and observes exactly pre-defined measures of polishes and waxes. - In addition, every single production step is controlled with the help of a production diary. - After the respective bugatti shoes model is produced in a run, certificated acceptance takes place through our Quality Manager. Without this certificate the shoes cannot leave the factory. - There is not only random sampling, but every now and then up to a 100% of a production load is checked before shipment. - Every single shoe is then provided with a standardised pictogramme from which the consumer can see the materials used. 2 Are pollutants or poisonous materials used in the production of bugatti shoes? Also in the Indian and Asian factories all production processes are strictly standardised. That means that within the production of bugatti shoes no forbidden or noxious raw materials and/or chemicals are used. For every single shoe a detailed toxicological certificate, according to international standards, must be presented by the manufacturer. Without this certificate no bugatti shoe reaches the market. On this occasion, not only the raw materials of each shoe are examined, but also the whole and entirely completed shoe is tested. One of the prestigious institutes we work together with regularly is the German Test and Research Institute (PFI) in Pirmasens, Germany. Are genetically-manipulated materials used in the production of bugatti shoes? No, during the production of our shoes no genetically-manipulated materials are employed. How are the production workers protected at bugatti shoes? What about the subject of child labour? bugatti shoes operates a zero tolerance policy regarding child labour and has strict rules and guidelines to protect all of its production workers. The workers of all factories in which bugatti shoes are produced always wear correct working and protective clothing. In the factories themselves, the observance of all valid safety measures is regularly and meticulously inspected by our European Quality Managers. Everything is undertaken therefore to guarantee the health and wellbeing of the production employees in a sustainable way. Child labour is absolutely taboo with bugatti shoes. We do not only reject this method strictly, but also we arrange supervision of the execution of this rule constantly by the specially trained employees of our Quality Management. As a basic principal we do not work together with manufacturers who infringe against the ruling employee protection legislation. Who sells bugatti shoes? bugatti shoes are developed and sold by the Swiss companies bugatti shoes man gmbh and bugatti shoes woman gmbh. Where can I buy bugatti shoes? Today, one can buy bugatti shoes already in 35 countries. Distribution is based in this case around the classic, stationary shoe retail trade, as well as around well-chosen department stores, mail order and online shops. You can find a detailed source of supply overview under the following link on the bugatti shoes website: www.bugatti-shoes.com 3 What is special in bugatti shoes? The special benefit of bugatti shoes is, without any doubt, their excellent fit and workmanship. bugatti shoes fit perfectly right from the first time you put them on, nothing rubs, nothing pinches. This is achieved by starting with the most important thing in shoe construction: construction of the last. The last is a kind of model of the human foot, which in former times was made of wood (today it´s milled out of plastic) and round which the shoe is built up in different widths. The last construction is not only a craft steeped in tradition, but an art in itself on which particularly we place a great deal of value at bugatti shoes. Thus we include in the plan, for example, with each of our lasts a few millimeters extra and reach through this outstanding comfort in the finished shoe. In the following our special bugatti comfort themes: GENIAL INSOLE The bugatti Genial Insole is a special sole placed inside the shoe which provides the feeling of walking on moss-soft soil. This effect is achieved by a very high-quality foam material developed originally by NASA which gently adapts itself to the individual foot shape. Because this high-tech foam possesses a regular "shape memory" it reverts back to its original form again after each wearing. Therefore you have the feeling you step afresh into a new shoe each day. SOFTGEL A Softgel©-cushion visibly built into the heel area which cushions the body weight with lasting effect. By the application of this very high quality gel material both the knees as well as the spinal discs are protected in an efficient way. With Softgel© a comfort in wear is therefore reached that you ordinarily only find in the sports shoe sector. COMFORT WIDE Just a few millimeters make all the difference. Precisely for the sturdier foot we insert a little more width in the forefoot area of our shoes. Through our unique feature bugatti Comfortwide the shoes become discernibly more comfortable. Finally, we also take into consideration the different foot shapes in East, West, and the South of Europe, as well as in Asia. EXTRA WIDE Even more freedom of movement is offered by bugatti shoes Extrawide comfort technology. This is of benefit in particular to tall, exceptionally strong or athletic wearers of our shoes. In spite of the maximum volume achieved through this in the forefoot area the shoes remain, typically bugatti, elegant. Particularly sturdy feet can originate, e.g., from sport. FRESH AIR The bugatti shoes Fresh Air Valve functions like a small air-conditioning unit in the shoe. A valve built into the outer sole supplies the foot constantly with fresh air. Simply through movement of the foot, the bugatti shoes Fresh-Air-Valve absorbs air and leads it into a chamber system built into the sole. Through this very simple yet ingenious principle the foot is continuously and gently supplied with fresh air. Cold and humidity stay outside. SMELL STOP With Softflex bugatti shoes has re-interpreted an old Italian handcraft tradition. Thus, the shoes are produced using the traditional “Sacchetto”-design. This means, that the leather is sewn like a sock into the shoe. Therefore the shoe becomes extremely soft and snuggly. By the way, it was the Indians who applied this principle in their moccasins! 4 SOFT FLEX With Soft Flex bugatti shoes has re-interpreted an old Italian handcraft tradition. Thus, the shoes are produced using the traditional “Sacchetto” construction. This means that the leather is sewn like a sock into the shoe. Thus the shoe becomes extremely soft and snuggly. By the way, it was the American Indians who applied this principle in their moccasins! BUGATTI TEX The bugatti shoes TEX membrane is a water resistant, windproof and optimal breathability through Hightech-Membrane. For the wearer of the shoe the membrane is invisible but nevertheless it keeps feet dry and warm which is also achieved through constant and strict quality controls. The shoes equipped with TEX are waterproof and therefore especially well suited for autumnal or wintry "filthy weather". BALANCE SYSTEM „Back to nature“, so could be the Leitmotif which stands behind the bugatti shoes Pro Balance system. The system, which originally was developed by an orthopaedist, lets the foot rest on a flat surface. In this way it returns the natural balance to the foot movement. Optically it remains a stylish, elegant heeled shoe. In addition, we also insert a shock absorber. Thus, a very special kind of walking feeling is reached that at the same time, protects both the joints and the spinal column. Aren’t bugatti shoes very expensive then? No. bugatti shoes are positioned in the so-called mid-price segment and offers in this segment a unique cost-performance ratio. Are there from bugatti shoes also suitable handbags and other accessories? Together with one of our bugatti-cooperation partners we have developed a collection of women´s hand bags that fits perfectly with our shoes. The materials used in this case, in particular the fine Italian leathers, are attuned exactly to our shoes. In addition, there are also smart wallets, smallchange purses, belts and mobile phone pockets from bugatti. When do the new collections appear in each case and how I can get to know about it? The professional trade has the facility to be updated either at the Riva (Italy) fairs, which take place twice a year, in January and June, as well as at the Düsseldorf (“GDS”) fairs which also take place two times a year, in March and September. In addition, we operate for our customers our own international showrooms. For all end-consumers there is our website www.bugatti-shoes.com, in addition there will be regular news and photos from bugatti shoes in the appropriate fashion and lifestyle magazines. 5