Rondinaud Charentaise slippers take on the European market

Founded in Aquitaine, France over a century ago, Rondinaud has set its sights on Northern European markets and also plans to establish a presence in Germany, Spain, and Italy.

It is a challenge the fifteen-employee company intends to meet, bolstered by its Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status and by a reputation that has carried it as far as New York’s MoMA. The Museum of Modern Art’s shop stocks the traditional, glue-free charentaise made by the century-old La Rochefoucauld firm.

“From securing PGI status to our presence in the United States, these marks of recognition are a tremendous source of pride and a testament to the value of our fifteen employees and our expertise,” says Olivier Rondinaud. “Our ambition now is to make this charentaise, a true ambassador for Charente, a staple of comfort and style in European homes.”

The company’s European ambitions are underpinned by a retail network that currently comprises around 500 points of sale, divided between its own boutiques and multi-brand retailers, alongside an online portal presenting its full product range.

If Ateliers Rondinaud say they are targeting Northern Europe, it is unsurprisingly for the climate. “Seasonality and the culture of ‘cocooning’ are a perfect fit for the qualities of the wool-felt charentaise (around 38 tonnes of felt used per year),” the company notes.

With production now reaching 450 to 500 pairs per day, the company says it sold more than 90,000 pairs in 2024 and expects to post a turnover of €1.9 million in the 2025 financial year.