After passing his master craftsman's examination, Sebastian Oefele (Sr.), together with his wife Anna, intended to establish an independent tailor shop in their hometown of Oberschneidbach. However, the necessary premises were not available at his parents' property, especially since several younger siblings also lived in the household.

After a long search, an older property in Lauterbach was acquired. This offered the necessary conditions for setting up a tailor shop and housing the family.

In the further course, it turned out that the local economic conditions only allowed for a limited expansion of the business. At that time, Lauterbach had about 400 inhabitants, and there were already three tailor shops in the village.

To secure and expand his livelihood, Sebastian Oefele (Sr.) therefore established business connections with Munich. Subsequently, jackets and trousers, in particular, were produced for clients there. The manufactured garments were transported by motorcycle.

The windows located on the right side of the property belonged to the workshop, while the other rooms served as living quarters for the family.

The photograph from 1934 shows the founder of the original tailor shop, Sebastian Oefele (Sr.), in the background, along with some of the staff. Even then, clothing for hunting, work, and leisure was produced.

In the foreground, his son, also Sebastian Oefele (Jr.), can be seen at the age of five.

When the company founder, master tailor Sebastian Oefele (sen.), returned home healthy after the Second World War, a busy time began for him and his family. Many of the returning soldiers still came home in their heavy Wehrmacht coats.

Sebastian Oefele (sen.) quickly recognized the special situation of the post-war years. Fabrics and new materials were scarce, but much could still be made from the existing coats. With craftsmanship and great ingenuity, he began to make much-needed clothing from the robust fabric. This resulted in jackets, parkas, and short coats – so-called "Stutzer", which were hardly available on the market at that time.

Even though many materials were scarce, there were still sufficient ingredients such as buttons and lining fabrics in stock. This allowed the workshop to continue production. Soon there was so much work that every helping hand was needed.

Eventually, Sebastian Oefele (sen.)'s son also had to leave school early to begin an apprenticeship as a tailor in his father's business. After successfully completing his training, Sebastian Oefele (jun.) continued his professional development and attended the fashion school in Munich. There he deepened his skills and finally successfully passed the master craftsman's examination in men's tailoring in 1958. He then continued to run the business.

The economic boom and growing consumerism of the 1970s demanded entrepreneurial foresight and the courage to take new steps. Sebastian Oefele (Jr.) recognized this development early on. Together with his wife Alice, he decided to acquire a shop in Meitingen. There, they presented fashion for men and women, with a particular focus on trousers that were produced directly in their tailor shop in Lauterbach.

The business quickly became a great success. The offerings perfectly matched the taste of the time and were enthusiastically received by the people of Meitingen and the surrounding area.

Meanwhile, Sebastian and Alice Oefele’s son completed an apprenticeship as a tailor in Mindelheim. In his free time, Wolfgang actively supported his parents in sales, gaining valuable early experience in the family business.

After completing his apprenticeship as a garment tailor in 1975, Wolfgang Oefele served his 15-month military service in Münsingen. In the following years, he worked as a journeyman in his parents' tailor shop.

For further professional training, he then attended the Müller & Sohn Fashion School in Düsseldorf, as well as a preparatory course for women's tailoring, as courses for men's tailoring were no longer offered at that time.

Subsequently, Wolfgang Oefele successfully passed the master craftsman's examination in women's tailoring before the Bayreuth Chamber of Crafts.

Since 1986, "Jagdmode Oefele," as the official company name was then, increasingly presented itself nationwide at numerous exhibitions in the hunting and fishing sectors. This allowed the company to continuously expand its customer base and open up new markets. From this time on, "Jagdmode Oefele" regularly participated in important hunting fairs: Jagd & Hund in Dortmund, Pferd & Jagd in Hanover, as well as hunting and fishing fairs in Erding, Munich, Augsburg, Leipzig-Markkleeberg, Ulm, Frankfurt, Friedrichshafen, Wiesbaden, and Salzburg.

The photo shows the current company owner Wolfgang Oefele, as he attended the company's stand at the Jagd & Hund hunting fair in Dortmund in 1987 – an early example of the dedicated presence that has characterized the company over the years.

As the small family business grew in popularity, more and more customers from the surrounding area found their way to Lauterbach. To meet the constantly growing product range and high demands, a new showroom was built in 1988, tailored precisely to the needs of the clientele. As the detailed picture shows, at that time, sewing continued in the in-house tailoring shop with great love for craftsmanship. Every pair of trousers was carefully crafted, often according to individual measurements or special wishes. The new showroom made it possible to try on the pieces directly, receive advice, and thus enjoy a unique, personal shopping experience – entirely in line with the family philosophy of combining quality and customer proximity.

As early as 1990, the company "Jagd- und Sportmode Oefele" published its first flyer – a remarkable precursor to today's catalog. Wolfgang Oefele recognized the potential of additional distribution channels early on and expanded classic brick-and-mortar retail and regular trade fair appearances with this innovative form of advertising. Flyers and personal invitations to trade fairs were systematically sent by post as bulk mail and significantly contributed to making the company known beyond regional borders.

From 1996 on, Wolfgang Oefele wrote a new chapter in the history of Jagdbekleidung Oefele: In addition to the proven stationary retail business and trade fair appearances, the company launched its own online shop – www.oefele.de was born.

This opened up a completely new door to the world of customers. For the first time, they could get comprehensive information about the company, view event dates, easily contact them by email, and order directly online. This digital step was a significant milestone and laid the foundation for the continuous development of the company to this day. Oefele thus established itself as a pioneer in the industry early on.

Even at the beginning of online retail, the shipping boxes were provided with their own advertising imprint (see detailed picture). The picture shows Sebastian Oefele and Wolfgang Oefele – and in the middle, the still young Philipp Oefele, who was already part of the company's history back then and symbolically represents the next generation.

Over the years, the customer base from near and far steadily grew. However, with increasing demand, the existing storage capacity soon reached its limits. Goods sometimes had to be stored in the garage, with neighbors, or in the basement.

In view of this development, it was decided to construct a new building adjacent to the existing sewing factory. A building with approximately 1,200 square meters of sales and storage space was planned.

After a comparatively short construction period, this significant project was opened in May 2000. From then on, it was possible to present goods clearly and appealingly. At the same time, the generously designed warehouse offered sufficient space for the company's future development.

Photographs of the sales floor give an impression of the premises that were available to customers since 2000. The new building also opened up various opportunities for advertising and events, such as the twice-yearly Sunday shopping market events.

The new sales area and expanded offering were very well received. Soon, customers came from a radius of up to 100 kilometers to visit the store.

From 2005, the success story gained further momentum. Passionately designed flyers, brochures, and catalogs, regularly sent via direct mail, carried the company's name "Oefele Jagdbekleidung" far into the hunting world, establishing it as a major player in the industry. The customer base not only grew steadily – it became a community of people who shared the same enthusiasm.

At the same time, personal presence at all major hunting fairs was more than just an obligation – it became the heart of interaction. Here, encounters, conversations, and connections were forged that went far beyond business and endure to this day. Thus, step by step, a growing company evolved into a brand with a face and a history.

May 2010 marked a special occasion for celebration: The showroom, newly built in 2000, celebrated its tenth anniversary. This jubilee was an opportunity to warmly invite customers as part of an open Sunday and to thank them for their many years of loyalty.

Numerous customers from the region, who have supported the company for many years,
accepted the invitation. They could look forward not only to
attractive anniversary offers, but also to a pleasant atmosphere with lovingly prepared delicacies and complimentary drinks, which invited them to linger, converse, and enjoy.

The response exceeded all expectations. The day developed into a special highlight – characterized by numerous encounters, stimulating conversations, and a palpable sense of connection. An anniversary that the company will fondly remember for a long time.

Increasing bureaucratic demands, ever stricter regulatory requirements, and continuously rising costs in their own production posed major challenges for the company. Step by step, it became clear that the previous structures were no longer sustainable in the long term.

At the same time, new opportunities arose in neighboring countries. Sourcing there not only proved to be economically attractive but also offered the chance to secure long-term competitiveness. The resulting price advantages could be responsibly passed on to customers – a decisive step to reliably stay by their side even in a changing market.

Against this backdrop, the company's own production was discontinued. The freed-up premises were meticulously and foresightfully converted. Former production areas were transformed into modern office spaces, creating room for new ideas, collaboration, and further growth.

In 2019, the family's shared vision was given a name: "La Chasse". The word and figurative mark was registered with the German Patent and Trademark Office in Munich. With this registration, an idea became a protected part of the family history.

"La Chasse" stands for much more than just a brand. It represents values such as the use of sustainable materials, the renunciation of additives, and the ambition to create products that the
family fully endorses. The brand embodies the courage to forge one's own path, as well as the passion to develop new things and identify market gaps.

"La Chasse" is a promise – to oneself and to the people who accompany the brand. A promise of quality, trust, and authenticity. The brand strengthens the connection with customers and gives the products a special, personal touch as well as a feeling of exclusivity.

Over time, numerous products have been branded with "La Chasse" – from clothing and shoes to accessories. Each item not only bears the name but also a piece of the family's history.

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared the
previous epidemic a pandemic. The cause was an infection with the then-unknown coronavirus. In numerous countries, measures to combat the pandemic led to massive restrictions in daily life.

From March 18, 2020, most retail businesses had to close. At the end of April/beginning of May 2020, initial relaxations and re-openings took place. On December 16, 2020, another nationwide lockdown came into effect, lasting over 100 days.

For the company, these developments meant one of the most profound decisions in its history: the farewell to all hunting fairs and the closure of the retail store. This step was easier than initially assumed, as online sales experienced a veritable boom during the pandemic.

Thus, for the company, the year 2020 not only represents an end, but above all a new beginning – characterized by courage for change, entrepreneurial responsibility, and the firm will to continue its path exclusively online in the future.

Oefele combines tradition with modern ideas. Following the experiences of the coronavirus pandemic, online sales were specifically expanded under the leadership of Philipp Oefele. With his training at the Fachakademie für Textil und Schuhe in Nagold (Technical Academy for Textiles and Shoes in Nagold) and a degree as a Textile Business Administrator, he brings extensive knowledge of the textile industry and manages the online shop with passion and a clear eye for quality and trends.

Philipp Oefele, however, is more than an expert in sales and business administration: In 2021, he successfully passed the hunting examination while working, thereby expanding his knowledge in the hunting sector – a genuine interest that is reflected in all areas of the company.

Every product at Oefele carries a piece of personality. The company doesn't just sell – it lives its products and wants customers to feel this. With this combination of experience, passion, and foresight, Oefele is ready for whatever the future brings.