ALFA Footwear

ALFA Footwear was founded in 1931 by Maurice Filip Christensen, with an initial focus on children's shoes. In 1956, the company moved to Brandbu, Norway, and merged with Bambi, which made it the largest children's footwear factory in the country.

Jacob Ihlen became CEO in 1957 and led a period of increased activity and expanded product offerings over the next two decades. In 1965, ALFA Footwear received an award from the Norwegian Design Council for the ski boot model 2001, which featured a combination of rubber and leather materials.

A fire in 1976 destroyed the factory, and reconstruction began soon after. The next year, ALFA Footwear introduced the M/77 march boot for the Norwegian Armed Forces. This marked the company's involvement in serving military contracts.

In 1999, Haglöfs, a Swedish company, acquired ALFA Footwear to further develop its mountain and hiking footwear. The Møller family purchased ALFA from Haglöfs in 2007.

ALFA Footwear relaunched in 2014 with a new visual identity. Ski boots with GORE-TEX membranes were reintroduced in the same year. The company reported a revenue of 167 million NOK in 2021, having regained a contract with the Norwegian Armed Forces that year. In 2023, Atle Bjerkli was appointed as CEO, and the Stad model received the "Product of the Year" honor at the Design Industry Awards.

ALFA Footwear is headquartered in Jaren, about 70 kilometers north of Oslo. Product design, development, testing, sales, marketing, and administration are all based in Norway. The company's footwear production takes place at contracted manufacturing sites in Europe and Asia, under specified quality standards and ongoing oversight by ALFA Footwear.

ALFA Footwear uses several materials and construction methods for its products. Ski boots made by ALFA often incorporate GORE-TEX membranes, which provide waterproofing and moisture management. The company introduced vulcanized rubber soles for ski boots in the 1950s. Norwegian wool is included as an insulating liner in the "Ull" winter shoe.

ALFA Footwear produces ski boots, including models that feature GORE-TEX membranes. The company makes hiking boots such as the Lyng A-P-S, which received a "Good Design" award from Designrådet. Its hunting shoes are designed for demanding terrain. The "Ull" winter shoe, which features Norwegian wool for insulation, was named "Overall Winner" at the Scandinavian Outdoor Awards. ALFA also manufactures the M/77 march boot, which has been part of the Norwegian Armed Forces' standard gear since 1977.