5 passage piver
Since its inception, Spring Court's home has always been tucked away on Passage Piver in Belleville, in Paris's 11th arrondissement. From barrels to rubber boots to Spring Court tennis shoes, 5 Passage Piver has been a
production hub for over 110 years.
1870: CONSTRUCTION OF THE FACTORY
Théodore Grimmeisen, a cooper, left his native Alsace to settle in the suburbs of Paris. He bought a vacant lot at 5 Passage Piver and built his factory on the site.
1900: EXPENDING THE KNOW-HOW
Grimmeisen's son, also named Théodore, was intrigued by a mysterious and revolutionary material: rubber.
The family business evolved and shifted focus as he set out to master rubber and shoemaking techniques.
1930: RUBBER BOOT
Georges Grimmeisen, son of Théodore, invented the Colibri Boot: the first-ever rubber boot to be moulded in a single piece.
Sturdy, waterproof and accessible, the Colibri Boots produced in Passage Piver were a great commercial success, revolutionising rural footwear.
1936: SPRING COURT
A tennis enthusiast, Georges developed a shoe for playing on clay. He combined white cotton canvas and ventilated rubber soles, and the Spring Court brand was born.
1984: TRANSFORMATION OF THE FACTORY
Production moved away from Paris. After producing more than 20 million pairs of tennis shoes between 1936 and 1984, the factory was cleared of its machines.
Théodore Grimmeisen, son of Georges, and his wife Sylvie decided to save the space from becoming an industrial wasteland. They maintained the building as the brand's headquarters, and undertook an ambitious renovation project to preserve its industrial soul.
The 1990s marked the start of a new chapter for the Spring Court factory. Inspired by the Magnum agency, which was based there for 10 years, the space welcomed companies to participate in a range of activities centred on photography and media.
TODAY
The company has stayed in the family, and is currently managed by Florence, Laura and Théodora, the fifth generation.
Still the brand's headquarters, the Passage Piver building is home to a Spring Court shop, a restaurant Le Café de l'Usine, and photography studios (studiosdelusine).
The space is also occupied by a number of companies and independent creatives: record labels, editorial offices, architects, graphic designers, production agencies...
