FWS History

1913

Company founded by Mr. Friedrich W. Schneider
1920s - 1930s

• Heinz Schneider (son of Friedrich W. Schneider) starts working for FWS
• First export – to the Netherlands

1928: Fritz Heemeyer starts working for FWS
1930: Heinz Schneider takes over the enterprise from his father
1940s - 1950s

1947: Fritz Heemeyer becomes copartner and executive director of the Friedrich W. Schneider KG
1950: Beginning of the import of the brands “CERVO” (Italy), “DOBESCH” (Vienna, Austria), “CHRISTY” (England), “VALENSY” (Belgium)
1957: Executive sale of “FLECHET PARIS” until 1972
1960s - 1970s

1962: New hat brand “MISTRAL”; Hartwig Heemeyer starts working for FWS
Hartwig Heemeyer beginnt bei FWS
1963: Beginning of import from USA (Henschel St. Louis – Triboro New York)
1965: Foundation of „Schneider & Heemeyer GmbH“, company name now: “Friedrich W. Schneider GmbH & Co. KG“;distribution of “Pierre Cardin” hats (until 1972)
1970s - 1980s

1970: Executive sale of “Kangol England”
1971: Hartwig Heemeyer becomes executive director and co-partner
1972: Beginning of import from China
1975: Fritz Heemeyer stops working for FWS; new hat brand “POLARIS”
1980: Rüdiger Bigus starts apprenticeship at FWS
1986: The company moves to Steyler Str. 21 in Köln Holweide
1988

New hat brand “BALMORAL”
1990s

1990: Foundation of „Horst Zins GmbH“, executive director: Rüdiger Bigus
1995: Beginning distribution of “BOLLMANN” hats (Lite Felt) in Europe (until 1998)
1996: Klaus Kirschner starts working for FWS
1997: Hartwig Heemeyer sole executive director
1997: Rüdiger Bigus becomes executive director and copartner
1998: “STETSON” licence for Europe
Beginning of new production in Hartha
2000s - 2011

2005: Klaus Kirschner copartner and executive director
2008: Hartwig Heemeyer stops working for FWS and sells the enterprise, executive directors Rüdiger Bigus and Klaus Kirschner take over the company
2012: Moving to bigger facilities at Oskar-Schindler Street in Cologne
2016: Sebastian Boekholt is involved in the company as a partner and authorized representative
2016 - 2018

2016: Sebastian Boekholt joins the company as an authorized signatory
2018: Installation of a 94 kWp photovoltaic system on the roof of the administration and warehouse in Cologne.
2019 - 2021

2019: Start of sale of Lierys and Barascon and relaunch of Hammaburg
2021: Sebastian Boekholt replaces Rüdiger Bigus as Managing Director
2023

- Rüdiger Bigus and Klaus Kirschner sell their company shares to Sebastian Boekholt, among others, and end their work at FWS
- Opening of a Stetson store in London as a subsidiary of FWS
- FWS becomes co-owner of JJ Hat Center - New York's oldest hat store
2024

FWS begins distribution of JJ Hats
2025

For the first time in the company’s history, FWS is moving into a purpose-built, state-of-the-art headquarters.

FWS History

1913

1920s - 1930s

1940s - 1950s

1960s - 1970s

1970s - 1980s

1988

1990s

2000s - 2011

2016 - 2018

2019 - 2021

2023

2024

2025