The story of the restless Mallorcan shoemaker who planted the seed of Camper

Vineyards, olive trees, almond trees, fruit trees, and countless artisan workshops constantly making shoes. This was the landscape that filled the town of Inca, Mallorca, some 150 years ago. In 1877, Antoni Fluxà walked the streets of this town. He was known by the nicknameThe MasterAs a child, he immersed himself in the local shoemaking tradition and had managed to make a name for himself in the profession. From his workshop, he heard about innovative shoemaking methods that were revolutionizing the industry in England, and he didn't think twice: he boarded a boat and went to experience them firsthand. Upon his return, he showed the rest of the island's members the brand-new machines that filled British workshops and were capable of working leather with great precision.

This trip and Antoni Fluxà's passion are the prelude to one of the most important shoemaking empires to have made its way to the international market from the Catalan Countries. The obsession with footwear was imprinted in the family's DNA and, a few decades later, was revived by Lorenzo Fluxà, the grandson of El Mestre. It was he who founded the Mallorcan brand Camper. In 2024, the company had a turnover of €240 million, had 350 stores, and employed around 1,000 people. Despite the passage of time, the Fluxà family remains at the helm, controlling 100% of Forch Med, which owns 65% of Camper. The remaining stake is held by two groups, also linked to other branches of the Fluxà family.

From workshop to multinational

From his 1877 trip, Antoni Fluxà returned with a sewing machine, installed it in his workshop, and became the first industrial footwear manufacturer in Mallorca. In 1928, his son took over the reins of the business. He focused on selecting high-quality raw materials, and his name began to resonate throughout the peninsula. However, it wasn't until the third generation took the helm that the business took giant strides. "In 1975, after the dictatorship, there was an overwhelming sense of freedom, and everyone was thirsty for creativity: we were moving from black and white to color," the company notes. In this context, Lorenzo Fluxà launched Camper. "It was a brand that was easy to wear, but difficult to define," the company acknowledges today. The first model was called Camaleón and was inspired by the traditional footwear worn by farmers in Inca.

In 1981, Camper opened its first store. He located it in Barcelona, ​​on Muntaner Street, and commissioned its design to one of the names of the moment: Fernando Amat, owner of the now-defunct Vinçon galleries. A commitment to marketing has been one of the keys to Camper's success. Until 1993, Barcelona-based Argentine designer Carlos Rolando was in charge of designing the brand's window displays. "Even today, when we visit a Camper store, we are amazed at how the brand's spirit can be felt in every corner," analyzes Carolina Luis-Bassa, director of the marketing master's program at UPF-Barcelona School of Management. "They don't just sell shoes; they sell a way of doing things," she insists. Thanks to this, Camper has been able to effectively convey the values ​​that define it—such as its Mediterranean origins and sustainability—in everything it does.

In 1982, the company entered the sports footwear segment. It also began sponsoring athletes in the World Windsurfing Championship. In the 1990s, Camper went international. First in Japan, then in the United Kingdom. In 2005, it opened a boutique hotel in Raval and continued expanding its horizons. In 2010, for example, it landed in Seoul with a 300-square-meter store. A year later, another one opened in New York. In 2012, the fourth generation of the family, led by Miguel Fluxà, took over as CEO and has led the company's strategy ever since.

"Camper's success is a combination of its strong artisan heritage, its consistent brand identity, its innovative and irreverent designs, its smart internationalization strategy, its focus on customer experience, and its commitment to sustainability," concludes Luis-Bassa.