Reviled and revered, Birkenstock has made its mark, not just on the shoe industry, but the fashion industry as a whole. From having quite literally invented the footbed to teaming up with legendary designers, the brand has come a long way since its first steps. And for a brand that's older than the United States, you'd expect there to be a lot of impact. Show
We're taking a deep dive into the German brand, its history, its significance and its products. HistoryBirkenstock's roots can be traced back all the way to 1774 in Langen-Bergheim, Germany. There, founder Johann Adam Birkenstock worked as a shoemaker and was listed in church archives as a "subject and cobbler". The next stride in the company's history wouldn't come for a few generations when, in 1896, Konrad Birkenstock began manufacturing and selling flexible footbed insoles. Shortly after, at the turn of the 20th Century, the footbed as we know it today really started to take shape when he introduced the first contoured arch support. These innovations paved the way for Birkenstock's success and necessitated the opening of a new factory in Friedburg. Eventually, the shoes caught on with health professionals as well and the Carl Birkenstock's training courses were even taught by physicians. In the 1930s, Birkenstock coined the term 'footbed' to describe its anatomically-shaped insoles. The name wasn't just clever marketing, however. The footbed was precisely designed to fit the anatomical shape of a foot, ensuring stability and comfort. It featured a deep, concave heel cup to maintain the wearer's natural cushioning at the heel bone; a longitudinal arch support and transverse arch support which aids in proper alignment and stability; raised toe bars which gives the feet more traction; and generous room at the toe box for comfort.
Birkenstock The footbed is constructed in four parts. The main part of the footbed is its core. It's made of cork and latex mixture which is both flexible and shock-absorbent. The footbed core is then sandwiched between two layers of natural jute fabric which stabilizes the core while allowing it to flex. The final layer is the suede lining. It's soft to the touch and absorbs moisture well, ensuring significant odor control. The company still manufactures the bulk of its shoes with premium leathers, suede and nubuck in its German factories. Meanwhile, a number of new styles are produced to the same high standards in Portugal. Today, the company has expanded well beyond its celebrated staples, offering innovative new products and applying the Birkenstock spin to tried-and-true designs. Since making its way to the United States in 1966, Birkenstock has only grown its audience, first finding popularity with the hippie crowd. Though its shoes saw success with free-spirit types, it would also be pegged as
an ugly shoe by the fashion elite. As fashion cycles are want to do, however, Birkenstock's infamous shoe eventually grew on its critics, paving the way for other divisive shoes like Crocs and has been fully cemented into the culture as a staple shoe across all style
camps. TermsFootbedThis it the part of the shoe which the foot rests upon. Birkenstock is famous for having inventing the term and creating an ergonomically-designed shoe. It consists of a cork and latex core, between two layers of jute and a suede lining. Soft FootbedBirkenstock has two different footbeds which it uses for its range of shoes. The soft footbed includes all four layers of the original footbed with an extra layer of foam padding just below the suede lining. CorkThe midsole is constructed of natural cork which gives the wearer support and comfort, molding to the wearer's feet. ShearlingIn addition to footbed options, Birkenstock also makes seasonal footwear with warm shearling lining, which is made from sheep shearling wool. EVAShort for 'Ethylene Vinyl Acetate,' this is a type of lightweight plastic which is moldable and water-resistant. Birkenstock makes a range of its classic shoes in EVA which makes them ideal for the beach or pool. 1774This collection is Birkenstock's branded step into the luxury space. Here, Birkenstock collaborates with designers like Rick Owens, Valentino and Stüssy to release limited edition products. SHOP NOW Boston
Birkenstock Boston Birkenstock Zappos $145.00 Among the most famous of Birkenstock's shoes, the Boston features a clog-style design with a closed-toe design and a single adjustable strap. It's a part of Birkenstock's Essentials range of footwear and comes in regular and narrow widths, original and soft footbeds, as well as a range of evergreen and seasonal upper materials. Boston Shearling
Courtesy Birkenstock Boston Shearling In all honesty, the Boston Shearling is far more practical than the Arizona Shearling. Because the Boston is a closed-toe sandal, your feet are already protected from the elements. The shearling simply offers warmth and some padding in your step. Boston Super Grip
Courtesy Birkenstock Boston Super Grip Are you an avid sandal wearer worried about slipping when it's wet outside? Wear the Boston Super Grip, which is just the usual Boston but with better traction. Arizona
Courtesy The two-strap opened-toe design is a signature of the Birkenstock line. Most common in Birkenstock's 'Birkibuc' synthetic nubuck material, the design was first introduced in 1973 and has remained unchanged since. Arizona Vegan
Courtesy Birkenstock Arizona Vegan These are the same as the other Arizonas but made with Birko-Flor nubuck, a material made from PVC designed to look like leather. Arizona Vegan Canvas
Courtesy Birkenstock Arizona Vegan Canvas Instead of alternative leather, this vegan Arizona uses canvas for its straps. That creates a different look and feel but they're the same sandals. Arizona Shearling
Courtesy Birkenstock Arizona Shearling This is the same Arizona you know and love — not the vegan one, by the way — with a soft, warm shearling liner. Arizona Essentials
Courtesy Birkenstock Arizona Essentials New as of a few years ago, the Arizona Essential is a rubberized version of the classic sandal. It's cheaper, too, creating less of a barrier to entry for some folks. Gizeh
Birkenstock A thong-style sandal, the Gizeh features an adjustable strap and an open-toe design. Milano |