Craftsmanship and innovation since 1851. Born in Switzerland. #Bally Born in Switzerland in 1851, Bally is one of the world's longstanding luxury brands. Proud to be leather architects, our DNA as skilled shoemakers marries a heritage of craftsmanship with a decidedly contemporary aesthetic. Founded by Carl Franz Bally, what began as a family-run ribbon factory in Schönenwerd quickly became a pioneering global brand by the turn of the century as Bally industrialized its processes (1854), built infrastructure and services to support its employees, and expanded stores from Montevideo, Uruguay (1870) to Paris, France (1879). Today, Bally continues to honor its timeless traditions, subscribing to the belief that quality speaks for itself. Even our most iconic shoes, like the men's formal Scribe, created by Carl Franz Bally's grandson Max Bally in celebration of the brand's 100-year anniversary in 1951, are still handmade in Switzerland, taking 240 artisanal techniques to complete.