1965

That year, Alfons and Käte Koch founded the company in Dornburg-Dorndorf and launched the first baby shoe collection.

1966

The Kaufhof, Karstadt, Horten, and Hertie department store groups placed their first orders.

1967

The product range was expanded to include an in-house headwear collection.

1968

Sterntaler exhibits its collections at eight regional trade fairs in Germany and establishes itself as a specialist retail brand.

1969

First construction phase – own building.

1970

The first Sterntaler Toys collection sees the light of day.

1972

Sterntaler visits its customers throughout Germany with three sales representatives.

1975

2nd construction phase – Sterntaler expands

1978

Due to increasing demand, the Sterntaler range is expanded to include its first in-house Socks & Tights collection, establishing the company as a specialist in products for babies’ and toddlers’ feet.

1980

Sterntaler now has more than 1,000 specialist retailers as customers in Germany.

1982

3rd construction phase – Sterntaler expands across Europe

1988

Alongside new styles and models, “functions” are an important focus for Sterntaler. Sterntaler is a pioneer in UV-Protection, particularly in the area of headwear.

1990

4th construction phase – Sterntaler is the first manufacturer to give shape to play mats. Sterntaler’s animal motifs conquer children’s rooms.

1992

Establishment of a production company in Asia and the Czech Republic, as production capacity at the headquarters in Dornburg-Dorndorf is no longer sufficient.

1994

Sterntaler introduces ABS socks to the German market. The term, protected by Sterntaler, becomes synonymous with non-slip socks.

1996

From the Musical Soft Toy and play mat to the Sleeping Bag: the Sterntaler toy division embraces the concept of collections – individual characters are available in up to 35 different variations.

1998

Sterntaler is one of the first manufacturers to offer its customers area concepts for all product categories.

2002

Sterntaler conquers the export market and is successfully represented in more than 25 countries.

2004

Successful launch of the FliesenFlitzer. Following ABS socks, this is the second term protected by Sterntaler to become firmly established in the market.

2005

We celebrate our 40th birthday... and give ourselves some particularly wonderful gifts. In addition to a completely new hall, our range of services now also includes a dealer and online shop, as well as Sterntaler Limited Hong Kong.

2006

Sterntaler receives a visit from ZDF: the Sterntaler Kasperle figures are celebrating a success story.

2008

Sterntaler GmbH & Co. KG, Sterntaler Holding and Sterntaler UB GmbH merge to form the new Sterntaler GmbH.

2009

Sterntaler introduces a new merchandise management system and successfully presents its first children's outerwear collection.

2010

Opening of the new showroom: a successful example of Sterntaler’s forward-looking approach. The Kids‘ Fashion Line is expanded to include baby underwear.

2011

The new warehousing and logistics system is launched, and Sterntaler puts its new website online.

2012

Project 6/8 by Sterntaler: strengthens the highly successful brand with its own headwear collection for kids in sizes 49–57.

2014

Sterntaler enters the World Wide Web with momentum and a new look. The latest collections are available to shop online around the clock at www.sterntaler-shop.com.

2015

We celebrate our 50th birthday and start the new season with our first in-house trade fair in our showroom in Dorndorf. On more than 350 sq m, our customers can look forward to an exclusive discovery tour through the brand-new collections, professional discussions with colleagues, and great in-house trade fair offers. Relaunch of sterntaler.com, including the end-customer and retailer shops.

2016

Welcome to the intelligent Sterntaler Sleeping Bag world: we offer restful sleep in every season. Thanks to optimized temperature regulation, every child always feels safe and secure. The Hydrocool microfiber lining provides cooling in warm temperatures and keeps children pleasantly warm in cooler temperatures. The Sleeping Bag motto is: grow out of it, not into it.

2017

Relaunch of sterntaler.com, including the end-customer and retailer shops. Sterntaler on Facebook and Instagram—the Sterntaler Instagram page is always on the move: new products, trends, competitions, and interactive campaigns such as #sterntalerderwoche! Click here to visit the Sterntaler profile on Instagram

2018

The popular Sterntaler Donkey family is growing: welcome, Donkey Emmi Girl. This is where all girls’ eyes light up, because the well-known Donkey trio is now also available in magical shades of pink.

2019

The digital Musical Soft Toy—our Baby Chilling Box—is taking children’s rooms by storm. Thanks to its integrated Bluetooth speaker, the Sterntaler Chilling Box can play any melodies. Whether it’s a beautiful lullaby or fairy tales and stories, you decide what your baby should listen to.

2020

Two characters greet us with a new makeover: our popular Donkey Emmi gets a new color, and the cute mouse Mabel appears in a new design. New Sterntaler Hand Puppets invite children to tell stories. The children's size offers the perfect fit. A new Sterntaler kindergarten collection—perfectly equipped from head to toe.

2021

Relaunch of the new B2C online shop. A new makeover makes the online shop shine in wonderful colors and invites you to shop. Naturalness & sustainability: that is what “Stay true to nature” stands for. The focus in producing the collection is on using organic cotton and recycled polyester. Rabbit Kinni and Koala Kalla invite children to enjoy cozy cuddles in their bedrooms. Our Sterntaler collection is expanded with “Emmi‘s Garden,” and we welcome two new donkeys—Emmilius & Emmily—to the popular Donkey family. The two donkeys explore the garden paradise together and appear in new, fresh colors.

2024

Relaunch of the new corporate design. The new look includes a modern color concept, newly designed packaging, and a completely updated online shop. The aim of the relaunch was to further develop the brand in a contemporary way while creating clarity, recognizability, and an even stronger focus on the needs of the target audience—without compromising on the same high standards of quality and reliability.

2025

We are celebrating our 60th birthday. Since its founding in 1965, the brand has stood for high-quality products, thoughtful design, and a special understanding of the needs of children and families. The 60th birthday marks a significant milestone in the company’s history and underscores its continuous development, as well as the trust built over generations.