1952 - The establishment of leather goods manufacture in Apolda as a state-owned enterprise (VEB). At the beginning of the firm’s history, mainly leather substitutes and imitation leather were used. But soon over 300 employees were producing high-quality, exportable products made from pure leather.

1969 - As leader of a manufacturing group for ladies handbags, city bags and travel bags, the Apoldaer Lederwarenfabrik VEB was responsible for a further 120 production centres. The bags with the ‘bell seal’ were exported to 18 countries, including the Soviet Union, Switzerland, Sweden and Kuwait.

1975 - The socialist planned economy called for master craftsmen and engineers to produce creative solutions in order to be able to further increase production despite deficiencies. The firm presented its high quality products at the leather trade fair in Offenbach and was given numerous contracts. 70 percent of the production was exported, 40 percent to West Germany alone, for Neckermann and Adidas.
The range was constantly extended, up to making the car roofs for all models of Wartburg and Trabant cars.

1990 - After the political change, it soon became clear that the firm could not survive without its own sales department, brand names and capital. An investor was searched for and found. In 1993 with the take-over of the factory by Michael Cromer from Munich, the firm developed itself into the main manufacturing centre for MCM. The luxury goods manufacturer MCM invested around two million marks in technological improvements with the most up-to-date special machines and a modelling studio for CAD-controlled pattern development.

2002 - Change of management and assumption of the post of managing director by Ingo Treu. Extension of area of business into a comprehensive range of services in the field of leather goods and the development of our own collection under the LA label. Today, the company’s emphasis lies in project-based manufacture for various high quality brand-names.