Sandals are the stars of summer. A model combining trend and comfort has been essential for decades: the Birkenstock. Discover their incredible story.
You have certainly heard of Birkenstocks before. You know, those very comfortable sandals that we’ve been seeing everywhere for a few years, as soon as the good weather comes around. They come in all colors and in very different shapes. With a single strap (the Madrid model), with two straps (the Arizona model, certainly the most seen of the summer, or the Sydney), with three thin straps… In short, there is something for everyone. If they are a great success, this pair of cult sandals has not always been fashionable. The German brand exists since 1774, originally with one desire: comfort. Indeed, the brand was not founded in order to make “trendy” shoes, but rather to bring support and comfort to people. Johann Adam Birkenstock, shoemaker in Germany, started to think about the comfort of his soles.
Birkenstock: shoes for professionals
“Master shoemaker Konrad Birkenstock began manufacturing and selling flexible footbeds in 1890”, indicates the site of the Mark. In short, it was he who invented the first insole that included the foot inside, a sole that could be considered “orthopedic”. It was in 1932 that the “Carl Birkenstock System”, that is to say the specific sole that adapts to the curved shape of the arch of the foot, was approved by the main doctors. It is this innovation that makes these shoes unique.
Before appearing on the feet of all fashionistas, Birkenstocks were first shoes intended for professionals in Germany, especially people who worked in the health field. The latter are always on their feet and need very comfortable shoes to avoid foot pain and back pain. It is only during the brand development in the United States that the Birkenstocks will experience dazzling success, outside the field of orthopedics.
The Birkenstock: an essential fashion item
In 1966, the German brand entered the United States market thanks to the vision of an entrepreneur, Margot Fraser. It is she who believes in the development of Birkenstock on American soil. At that time, Birkenstocks were still not seen as a trend, but rather as ultra-comfortable sandals to wear only if you want to be good all day long. In no case are they perceived as a fashion piece. This changed in 1997 when several designers believed in the potential of Birkenstock as a fashion shoe.
In 2002, top model Heidi Klum even created a collection in collaboration with the brand and transposes it into a whole new dynamic. Now, fashionistas love it for its comfort, but also for its trendy design. Over the years, the brand has multiplied these collaborations with big names in fashion. Jill Sanders, Dior, Manolo Blahnik, Rick Owens, Céline… All have created their pairs of Birkenstocks, both original and glamorous, but without distorting the brand’s DNA. “Birkenstock has its own universal language. I liked the idea of approaching the DNA of our House, rooted in the tradition of Haute-Couture, with something so free and so adaptable. That to me is the very definition of inclusiveness.”said Pierpaolo Piccioli, artistic director of Maison Valentino, at the Mark. They are even considered “sexy” by Rick Owens, creator of the eponymous brand: “In fact, Birkenstocks are like jeans, functional and sexy. Birkenstocks might even be the sexiest shoe out there.”
In 2022, these are still and always must-haves, which can be worn both in summer and in winter, with socks in a lined model or a clog-style model (Boston). They can be worn just as well with simple jeans and an oversized white T-shirt-blazer combo as with a long dress or skirt. They are perfect in town, by the sea, or in the countryside. In short, they are cult shoes, timeless, and not just comfortable.
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