MAC JEANS is one of the most innovative companies in the German SME sector – the trouser specialist from Wald/Roßbach has been awarded the TOP 100 seal for 2026.

MAC JEANS is one of the most innovative companies among
German SMEs – the trouser specialist from Wald/Roßbach
has been awarded the TOP 100 seal for 2026.

The company, based in the Upper Palatinate, has received the top grade of A+ for
innovation management and a place in the top 10 in the
‘External Orientation/Open Innovation’ category Wald/Roßbach, 26 June 2026 – Another accolade for MAC JEANS: MAC Mode GmbH & Co. KGaA is among the TOP 100 most innovative medium-sized companies in Germany in 2026.

The long-established trouser specialist from Wald/Roßbach has thus received one of the most prestigious awards for innovative strength among German medium-sized enterprises. The company was nominated to the committee by the First Mayor of the
municipality of Wald, Ms Barbara Haimerl. The TOP 100 seal is awarded by
compamedia, the specialist in benchmarking projects for SMEs; the scientific selection process is led by Univ.-Prof. Dr Nikolaus Franke and Dr Rudolf Dömötör from the Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the Vienna University of Economics and Business.
In the scientifically rigorous selection process, MAC JEANS impressed with overall outstanding innovation management, which was awarded the top mark of A+.

The family-run business performed particularly well in the category
‘External Orientation/Open Innovation’: here, MAC JEANS ranks among the top ten companies in this year’s competition. “This award is a special endorsement for us because it shows that innovation at MAC JEANS does not stem from individual projects, but from a mindset,” says Eveline Schönleber, Managing Director & Shareholder of MAC Mode GmbH & Co. KGaA. “As a family-run business, we think long-term. We combine experience with curiosity, craftsmanship with technology, and responsibility with courage. Whether it’s sustainable materials, new product developments, digital processes or strong partnerships: our aim is to constantly rethink the jeans – making them better, more relevant and more sustainable.” 

For many years, the TOP 100 competition has been regarded as an important benchmark for the innovative performance of medium-sized companies in Germany. The focus is not solely on the short-term market success of individual products, but above all on whether a company is capable of innovation in a systematic, professional and sustainable manner. Among other things, the analysis examines top management’s support for innovation, the innovation climate, processes and organisation, external orientation, open innovation and concrete innovation successes.

For MAC JEANS, the award marks another milestone in a series of
recognition the company has received in recent years – including for sustainability, future proofing and its role as a modern employer. This latest award underlines how consistently the company is driving its development forward: from resource-efficient materials and innovative fits to new forms of collaboration with partners, research institutions and customers. The analysis particularly highlighted the company’s strong openness to the outside world. MAC JEANS incorporates market and customer perspectives
at an early stage into its innovation processes, works closely with external partners and
draws on ideas from research, retail, technology and society. In doing so, the
company demonstrates that innovation in SMEs does not arise in a closed laboratory
but through open dialogue with people, markets and new ideas. “We do not view innovation as an end in itself,” Eveline Schönleber continued. “For us, a good idea must always deliver genuine benefits – for our customers, for the retail sector, for our staff and for the environment. This is precisely the source of the strength that has sustained us as a brand for decades: we keep moving forward without losing sight of our values.”

The TOP 100 award is organised by compamedia. The scientific
direction is led by Prof. Dr Nikolaus Franke from the Institute for Entrepreneurship
and Innovation at the Vienna University of Economics and Business, supported by Dr Rudolf Dömötör.

The selection process is based on a comprehensive innovation analysis comprising more
than 100 assessment criteria. The award is supported by strong partners from
business, academia and the media. These include, amongst others, Manager
Magazin as a media partner and ZEIT für Unternehmer as a cooperation partner.
By being named a TOP 100 Innovator 2026, MAC JEANS is consolidating its position
as one of the most forward-looking family-run businesses in the German fashion industry
– and demonstrating that true innovative strength arises where precision, responsibility
and entrepreneurial spirit come together.