Bata Marks Founder’s Day 2025 with Global Commitment to Moving Forward Together 🤝🌍

September 21st, 2025, was more than just another date on the calendar; it was a powerful moment of reflection, celebration, and renewed commitment for Bata globally. On this special Founder’s Day 2025, thousands of Bata employees around the world paused to honour our deep legacy, celebrate the driving spirit of our brand, and reinforce our unwavering commitment to the communities that have supported us for over a century.

This isn't just about marking a historic milestone; it’s about recognizing the enduring values that make Bata who we are—a company dedicated to improving lives through quality, innovation, and community support.

The Visionary Legacy of Tomáš Bata: 131 Years of Improving Lives

Our journey began in 1894 in Zlín, Czechoslovakia, with a visionary man: our founder, Tomáš Bata. He was not simply a shoemaker; he was a revolutionary whose ideas transformed the footwear industry forever. Tomáš Bata’s foundational principle was brilliantly simple yet profoundly impactful: make quality footwear affordable for everyone.

But his vision extended far beyond the factory floor. He pioneered innovative production methods and, crucially, understood that a business could only thrive if its people and its surrounding community thrived. This led to his unique business model which emphasized building sustainable communities around Bata factories—providing housing, schools, and healthcare for his workers and their families. This powerful model of corporate responsibility is the bedrock upon which Bata operates in 56 countries today. It is a 131-year legacy of innovation, community building, and, most importantly, improving lives.

Global Spirit, Local Action: The Bata Children’s Program 💚

In the spirit of our founder, giving back to the community is ingrained in our corporate DNA. This commitment is powerfully channeled through the Bata Children’s Program (BCP), launched in 2010. The BCP focuses on empowering children and youth globally through vital support in education, health, mentorship, and sustainability. To date, the program has positively impacted over 400,000 children worldwide.

This year’s Founder’s Day saw an incredible surge of collective action. Around 32,000 employees across 56 countries dedicated their time and passion to community service initiatives through the BCP. This massive, coordinated effort underscores our company's ethos: that we are all Moving Forward Together.

Empowering Tomorrow's Leaders: The Youth-Led Innovation Lab in Bangladesh

The Founder's Day celebrations in Bangladesh carried a particularly special significance. We focused intensely on nurturing the nation's future by investing in the potential of young entrepreneurs.

Under the umbrella of the Bata Children’s Program and led by the Bata Employee Engagement (BEE) forum, we proudly partnered with Save the Children to launch the Youth-Led Innovation Lab. This pioneering initiative was designed to reach out to marginalized youth from Dhaka Division, equipping them with the essential mentoring, tools, and guidance necessary to transform their creative concepts into viable, sustainable business models.

The core of this initiative was a high-energy boot camp, where Bata employees volunteered as mentors. They spent invaluable time helping the young participants refine their projects, develop solid prototypes, and sharpen their crucial pitching skills.

The pinnacle of the celebration was the Gala Day on September 21. The young innovators stood before a distinguished panel of judges, including Bata’s leadership, government representatives, and respected social organizations, to present their revolutionary ideas. The most promising concepts were awarded the coveted Yes Card, a golden ticket advancing them to the national level for further support and development. This initiative perfectly embodies our commitment to youth empowerment and fostering a culture of innovation.

A Shoe for a Cause: The Consumer Connect Campaign

Our celebrations weren't limited to internal initiatives; we made sure our valued customers could easily participate in the spirit of giving back. In partnership with SOS Children’s Village Bangladesh, we ran a nationwide Consumer Connect Campaign in all Bata stores across the country.

For every pair of shoes sold on Founder’s Day, we pledged BDT 21 per pair towards the development of children and youth at SOS Children’s Village. These crucial funds will be utilized to support impactful programs like life skills training, specialized mentoring sessions for youth, and vital psychosocial support programs to strengthen the well-being and mental health of children in their care.

The in-store experience was vibrant and joyful. Children were invited to join in fun activities like painting and decorating shoe boxes and enjoying a delightful puppetry show. The excitement peaked with the appearance of our popular actress and celebrity brand ambassador, Sabila Noor, who spent time inspiring and encouraging the children, amplifying the joy of the day.

Moving Forward Together: Our Sustainable Future

Through the Youth-Led Innovation Lab and the nationwide Consumer Connect Campaign, Bata Bangladesh celebrated not just our incredible 131 years of legacy, but also powerfully reaffirmed our core purpose of "Improving Lives." The events highlighted our deep commitment to giving back to the community, empowering youth, and supporting children’s development.

We are proud to stand with our global family in celebrating Founder's Day 2025. It is a strong reminder that the strength of our brand lies not just in the quality of our shoes, but in the strength of the communities we serve. As we look ahead, Bata is energized and united on our journey towards a more inclusive and sustainable future.

We are truly Moving Forward Together.