THE 5 PASSAGE PIVER

the 5 passage piver

Behind the gate hides the Factory's interior courtyard, surrounded by industrial buildings from the 19th century. On the ground, still intact, sits the weighing machine, a wooden platform formerly used for weighing raw materials entering the factory by lorry.

1870: CONSTRUCTION 
OF THE FACTORY

Forced to leave Alsace during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, Théodore Grimmeisen, head of a family barrel-making business, took his know-how with him to Paris. The Factory thus came to be built on a piece of wasteland in the 11th arrondissement of Paris, at 5 passage Piver. His son, also called Théodore, for his part turned his attention to the development of rubber as a material for making stoppers, with a view to replacing the traditionally-used cork. It was while working with this revolutionary material that he had the idea of making heels for shoemakers. The factory thus went on to enjoy further expansion, thanks to rubber and footwear. Under the Colibri brand, rotating heels, clogs, sandals, boots and sneakers emerged.

1930: INVENTION OF 
THE RUBBER BOOT

In 1930, Théodore's sons took over the family factory and developed a rubber boot, moulded in a single piece. They perfected a manufacturing process using compressed air to remove the boots from the mould. This process was a great success and was subsequently adopted by the competition.

1936: SPRING COURT PRODUCTION

Georges Grimmeisen invented the first Spring Court. It was produced at the factory for nearly 50 years. In 1984, the Factory was emptied of its machines, which left Paris for the Vendée.

1984: TRANSFORMATION 
OF THE FACTORY

Theodore and Sylvie Grimmeisen embarked on large-scale renovations. They gave a new lease of life to 5 passage Piver while preserving the site's industrial spirit. In the 1990s, they welcomed their first tenants, the Magnum agency, thus turning this address into a cultural and photographic site while still keeping the brand's headquarters there.

TODAY

Still the brand's headquarters, passage Piver is home to a Spring Court store, a restaurant and filming studios (studiosdelusine). Part of the space is also occupied by a number of companies and independent creatives: record labels, editorial offices, architects, graphic designers, production agencies, etc.