Scheer

Scheer is Vienna's bespoke shoemaker, founded in 1816 by Johann Scheer — the eldest son of a Viennese winemaking family who chose leather over the vineyard — and run since May 2011 by his seventh-generation descendant Markus Scheer from the house at Bräunerstraße 4–6 in the first district, the firm's home since the nineteenth century. Rudolf Scheer, the third generation, trained in Paris, won the gold medal at the 1873 Vienna World Exhibition and in 1878 was appointed k.u.k. Hoflieferant, purveyor to the Imperial and Royal Court, making boots for the army's officers and shoes for most of Europe's royal houses and for Emperor Franz Joseph himself; his last is still kept in the atelier. Carl Ferdinand Scheer, who took over in 1935 and won gold again in Paris in 1937, carried the firm through the war on orthopaedic work and made the health of the foot part of the house idea; Markus apprenticed under him, qualified as an orthopaedic master shoemaker and led the business at his side before succeeding him. The workshop makes at most 300 pairs a year. A first pair takes more than 80 hours over four visits — measuring, a trial shoe three to four months later, delivery three to four months after that, and a fit check — on a personal last built in-house, which stays Scheer's property and is kept for life. The leather store reaches back some 250 years, which the house believes makes it the largest and most varied anywhere: calf, goat, horse, ostrich and exotics from many decades. A first pair costs €10,000 including the last; a later Goodyear-welted pair about €6,000 and a Scheer sneaker about €3,500, half on order and half on delivery, with a free wellness service for Scheer shoes ever after. Since 2013 belt makers, fine-leather-goods makers and bag makers have joined the house as Scheer Accessories, extended in 2024 to watch straps and interiors; the Scheer Schusterei repairs shoes and leather goods of any make, and the Scheer Labor, founded in 2020, develops new pieces such as the Ixbis sneaker. Scheer does not travel: clients come to Vienna, at least three times for a first pair. Open Monday to Friday 10am–5pm; appointments by email or phone.