HISTORY OF ZIERA AND KUMFS
Three Generations of Shoes
Fashions may have changed over the past 60 plus years that we’ve been in the shoe business, but our conviction – that women deserve the best of both style and comfort – is unchanged. This belief has seen Ziera evolve from our foundation in New Zealand, to bringing beautiful comfort to women around the world.
1933 Brothers-in-law Mervyn Adams and David Robertson went into partnership as podiatrists. Looking for footwear to recommend to their clients, they found a lack of styles they believed to be orthopaedically good enough. So they set out on an ambitious project to study 10,000 women’s feet and create unique ‘lasts’ (shoe moulds) based on anatomical need.
1946 A local manufacturer was found and the range they developed - known as Mervyn Adams Arch Supporting Shoes - was instantly successful.
1950 The first Mervyn Adams store opened in Hamilton, New Zealand.
1961 The company moved into manufacturing, setting up its own factory.
1970 Exports began to Australia and towards the end of the decade, we broke into the American market.
1980s A time of tremendous growth, the factory relocated twice in the early 80s with more space needed to expand and meet demand. John Robertson, son of founder David Robertson, took over as Managing Director in 1980.
1995 saw the opening of the first of our own stores in Australia - in Sydney’s Parramatta Shopping Centre. All the shoes began to be marketed under the Kumfs name in 1996.
2006 The first US Kumfs store opened in Fresno, California.
2009 All manufacturing was shifted to our factory in Guangdong, China.
2010 Ziera, a fresh brand name, is launched but the focus on stylishly comfortable shoes remains the same.
TODAY Now, just like back in the 1940s, a dedication to both style and comfort is something that's at the heart of our business.
This family-owned New Zealand company is now headed by the third generation of Robertsons - Andrew, grandson of the founder.