Karl Toosbuy

Karl-Heinz Werner Toosbuy (23 February 1928 in Holte – 8 June 2004) is a Danish company founder. Karl Toosbuy moved with his wife Birte and their daughter Hanni to Bredebro in 1963, where he founded a shoe factory, which became the global company Ecco Sko A/S.

​

Toosbuy was trained at Hertz Tannery & Shoe factory in Copenhagen and studied in the evening to become a designer. He became head of development at Tretorn in Helsingør and became a foreman at Nordsko in Ballerup, but wanted to be independent. The family sold their house in Bagsværd and bet everything on the production of shoes. Toosbuy used completely new technology with robots, and he had shafts manufactured in Indonesia and Thailand and fitted to finished shoes in Portugal. The shoes won prizes abroad, and after being considered discount, they also became popular in Denmark. Karl Toosbuy was behind a collection for Prince Joachim and Princess Alexandra so that they could restore Schackenborg. Since then, the Toosbuy family has been a regular guest of Prince Joachim.

​

In 2003, Karl Toosbuy was appointed an honorary citizen of Bredebro. He also became a Knight of the Dannebrog.

In his youth, Karl Toosbuy was a member of the athletics club Helsingør IF together with, among others, Georg Poulsen. Toosbuy managed to set a Danish record for 1,000 metres.

Later he became a skilled high jumper in Copenhagen IF and jumped 1.75 in 1948.