BOSS – this German brand is a byword for out-and-out success. Headquartered in the Swabian town of Metzingen, the company is a world leader on the fashion stage. The Munich-based fashion designer Willi Bogner is also a firm favourite on the international catwalks. The Bogner label stands for the unique combination of sport and fashion and has everything from stylish skiwear to exquisite evening dresses – the perfect outfit for every occasion. Timeless elegance is the hallmark of Jil Sander. This brand, which started out in a Hamburg studio, is now a major success in Berlin, London and New York. Other German fashion labels also enjoy international success. JOOP! with its versatile creativity is a glittering example, while Daniel Hechter and René Lezard also thrill millions of customers with their gorgeous fabrics and elegant cuts. Strenesse is another shining star on the fashion scene. The brand has a startling simplicity and exemplifies what it is that makes all successful German brands stand out: quality and design.

Germany has a well-deserved reputation for quality footwear. Sioux has been providing a perfect fit for more than 50 years, based on its highly successful Indian moccasin model. Two sports brands from the Dassler Brothers “Shoe Factory” have already achieved Olympic victory: Puma and Adidas.

Creating genuine works of art has been the aim of four generations of the Wellendorff family, and the world-famous “Wellendorff rope necklace” is testimony to its success. The quest for perfection pursued by the Pforzheim-based goldsmith’s workshop produces necklaces with an unparalleled softness and flattering fit around the neck. Attention to detail is also the hallmark of the Wempe by KIM collection by Wempe of Hamburg, the internationally known, family-owned business.

Watches are born of passion and making perfect watches has been the maxim of the traditional Saxony-based watchmakers A. Lange & Söhne for more than 100 years. No wonder that the company’s timeless precision pieces are regarded as among the best in the world. Another traditional German brand – Glashütte Original – also prides itself on perfection. Collectors of clocks and watches from all over the world adore these works of art. Frankfurt am Main is the home of another important maker: Sinn – with its extraordinary range of quality specialist timepieces.

If you have an eye for quality, Rodenstock spectacles are an excellent choice. The name stands for glasses with perfectly customised lenses and frames. Two other German brands, Goldpfeil and Bree, manufacturers of high-fashion, upmarket leather goods, are also worth taking a closer look at. Another multi-award winner is the king of German writing instruments, the fountain pen from Hamburg that goes by the French name of Mont Blanc. The writing implement manufacturer Faber Castell sets great store by design – a successful strategy, as millions of sales will attest.