Ever since the creation of Pons Quintana in 1953, design has always been of utmost importance within the sphere of our work. The company began with the initial production of a shoe designed for children, called the “Chicarro”, and it was through the exportation and production of this children’s shoe, thanks to an agreement with the Icelandic Company Löovink, that Pons Quintana grew and emerged into the market.
In 1956, the company had approximately 20 employees, who manufactured a diverse range of lady’s slippers including the famous “Babucha”. This concept was further developed and a range of gentleman’s slippers were then produced. This innovation allowed Pons Quintana to step into the market on a national scale and enabled them to sell their product to some of the most important businesses in Spain, for example “El Corte Ingles”, who was supplier number 147.
Original design enabled Pons Quintana to set themselves apart from the rest of the products on the Spanish market and contributed to creating a new concept which meant that slippers could be worn within the home by all members of the family.
The sixties became known as the period when the company developed on an industrial level. The gradual step from carrying out manual work to using machinery, enabled the company to become more advanced, however the specialist techniques of the craft culture were not lost, but preserved in order to maintain the traditional handmade woven product we see today. In 1968 a new factory was set up and new machines for assembly and manufacturing were incorporated. At this particular time, the company had approximately 50 employees.
Successful management and the wide acceptance of the product within the commercial market, enabled Pons Quintana to overcome the innumerable situations of crisis and recession which hit the shoe industry in Spain during the last 50 years.
From 1975 onwards, European style made it’s way into the Spanish shoe market, and the design was altered accordingly in order to produce fashionable products. In this way, the children’s, lady’s and gentlemen’s slippers were removed.
During the eighties, the coming together of technology, craft culture and original design, enabled Pons Quintana to enter into the international market with their own brand of footwear.
In 1980, the national market of slippers was hit by a severe recession due to industrial mechanisation and competitive prices increasing productivity. As a result Pons Quintana gave its product a new look and further developed its manufacturing of quality shoes, thus leaving behind the production of slippers.
The incorporation of the company founder’s son and daughter further created a generational change and this involved the inclusion of French and Italian designers which helped to produce a new product design.
In September 1988, the spring/summer collection was presented at the International Trade Fair in Düsseldorf, whose management declared the brand Pons Quintana as the most sold brand at the Trade Fair.
The incorporation of Spain within the European Union, the employment of designers from the principal hubs of European fashion alongside the utilisation of technical knowledge gained from decades of work, made a qualitative leap possible and allowed the woven shoe of the brand Pons Quintana to become the “star” of the nineties. During this period the number of employees already exceeded 100 people and production had increased by 30%.
In 1994, after the retirement of the company’s founder Mr. Santiago Pons Quintana, the next generation stepped into his shoes; his son Mr Santiago Pons-Quintana took charge as Design, Production and Commercial Manager and his daughter Mrs Magda Pons-Quintana took charge as Financial Manager.
Although the product still remained prevalent within Spain, this new change-over allowed Pons Quintana to maker a greater entrance into the European market, as it made the diversification of the product possible through the incorporation of new materials which were in line with the most up-to-date fashion trends.
