Borovo

Borovo was founded on June 7, 1931, by Czech industrialist Tomáš Baťa. The factory opened in the village of Borovo near Vukovar. In 1933, Borovo began producing technical rubber goods, which marked its entrance into the rubber industry in Croatia.

After World War II, the company was nationalized in 1945. At that point, it became known as the Borovo Rubber and Footwear Factory. From 1947 through the late 1980s, Borovo expanded and reached its highest output as the largest producer of footwear and rubber products in the region.

In 1968, Borovo introduced the Borosana shoe. The shoe was designed by a team led by orthopedist Dr. Branko Strinović. The company launched the Startas sneaker in 1976. This model was originally intended for table tennis players and later became one of Borovo’s leading brands.

The Croatian War of Independence in 1991 halted Borovo's operations. The conflict caused extensive damage to its facilities. Between 1992 and 1997, management operated from Zagreb and production took place in Donji Miholjac. In 1998, Borovo returned to its original Vukovar site. The company then resumed the production of footwear and technical rubber goods after a reorganization.

Borovo manufactures all products at its Vukovar facility. The company employs around 600 workers. Of those, about 400 work in the Vukovar factory, and the remainder staff over 70 retail stores across Croatia.

Borovo uses materials sourced from Croatia in its footwear production, including leather, cotton textiles, and rubber made on site. The company employs manual production processes. Each pair of shoes is worked on by several factory employees before sale.

The Startas sneaker was introduced in 1976 as a shoe for table tennis players. Over time, it has become one of Borovo's central brands.

The Borosana shoe was developed in 1968 for working women by a design team that included Dr. Branko Strinović. In 2008, Borovo released the Boromina, which updated some aspects of the Borosana.

Borovo produces rubber-based footwear and the My Ballerinas collection in addition to its other brands. The company sells its products in Croatia and international markets, such as the United States, Canada, Singapore, and Australia.