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1946
Founder August Oberkönig
In 1946, August Oberkönig laid the foundation for everything Modeka is today: with great courage, shortly after the end of the war, he established a small glove production – providing work and perspective for war-disabled veterans. A story that shows what Modeka was made of from the very beginning.
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1952
Building the Tannery and Production Facility
What began as a small workshop grew quickly. In 1952, the Beckumer Leder-Bekleidungswerk was officially established – with its own tannery, finishing and dyeing facility. Goat, kid and lamb hides were processed into high-quality leathers, right on site, all under one roof. Quality from day one.
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1954
Start of Uniform & Authority Apparel
Quality that convinces – even authorities. From 1954, the Beckumer Leder-Bekleidungswerk supplied the German Armed Forces and other government agencies with leather apparel and pilot gloves. A mark of trust that allowed the company to grow – and the foundation for decades of expertise in technically demanding protective clothing.
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1966
The Belmo Design Brand
In the 1960s, motorcycles weren't a hobby – they were everyday life. For many Germans, the most important means of transport. That's exactly why Belmo Design was created in 1966: a brand built to make functional and durable motorcycle apparel for real riders. The first step towards what Modeka is today.
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1980
A Name for the World: Modeka
A new name, a new era. In 1980, Belmo Design became the Modeka brand – and made an immediate impact. Mo for motorcycle apparel, De for design. In the early 80s, the company went increasingly international, opening up new markets. A name was needed – one that works everywhere, that sounds right, that sticks. Mo-De-Ka. Short, strong, international.
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1987
Urban Looks
Motorcycle apparel was no longer just about protection – it was attitude. In 1987, Modeka showed that leather makes a statement beyond the road. Collections became more urban, cuts more fashionable, the audience broader. Modeka had arrived – in fashion, in lifestyle, in the zeitgeist.
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1999
The Next Horizon
A milestone in Modeka's history: in 1999, Modeka launched its first touring textile apparel with the Outback collection – featuring a Sympatex membrane for genuine weather protection. Leather was no longer the only option. Modeka opened up to a new world of riders and laid the foundation for the broad textile programme that defines the brand today.
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2010
Just Jeans. Just safe.
Just put on jeans and ride – a wish shared by many riders became reality in 2010. Modeka launched its first motorcycle jeans in denim: protection that looks like a regular pair of jeans. No more compromise between safety and everyday wearability. A product that changed the way people ride.
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2011
First Adventure Collections
2011 marked the beginning of a new era at Modeka: the first true adventure collections. For riders who know no limits – not on the map and not in the weather. Modeka on Tour became more than a product, it became a community. People exploring the world on two wheels, with Modeka by their side.
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2015
Certified Protection
Safety at Modeka was always more than a promise – from 2015, it was officially proven. With the start of PPE certification, Modeka began systematic testing of gloves to European protection standards. What riders had felt for a long time now had a certificate to prove it.
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2017
Bikerwoman of the Year
In 2017, Lou Windau was named Bikerwoman of the Year – an award that honours not only her personally, but also reflects what Modeka stands for: genuine passion for motorcycling, lived from the inside out. As the future leader of the company, she carries the brand's DNA forward – with fresh energy and a whole lot of heart.
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2018
Two People. One Dream. 57,000 Kilometres.
In 2018, the Panamericana series became the hero of a real adventure story: the couple Dreamcatcher's Journey set off on a world tour – equipped with the Modeka Panamericana. 57,000 kilometres, countless countries, one suit. The community followed every mile, reach exploded. The Panamericana became more than a product – it became a symbol of borderless motorcycling. And one of Modeka's most successful models ever.
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2025
Tested Not in a Lab, But Where the Roads End
In 2025, Modeka was put to the ultimate test – in the Spiti Valley, one of the most hostile and remote mountain regions of the Himalayas. A group of Gravel Adventure riders tested the entire Modeka Adventure collection there under extreme conditions. Altitude, cold, gravel, dust – no lab in the world could have delivered tougher conditions. Result: Modeka delivers on its promises.
