Birkenstock
Birkenstock's goal is to make shoes that support the natural function of the foot and improve overall health. The company is dedicated to making products that are comfortable, long-lasting, and good for the environment. They want to improve their customers' quality of life by selling shoes that support the foot's natural shape and movement.
Birkenstock's core ideals include tradition, craftsmanship, and sustainability. The brand's history and long-standing skill in shoemaking show how much it values tradition. Birkenstock has kept the same level of quality and ease in their shoes for generations by passing down their knowledge and skills.
Birkenstock's goods are all about craftsmanship. The brand makes its shoes with care, paying attention to every detail and using high-quality materials. Birkenstock shoes are known for their perfectly shaped footbeds, which provide good arch support and mold to the wearer's feet. Birkenstock's dedication to quality craftsmanship has led to a loyal customer group that loves how comfortable and long-lasting their shoes are.
Sustainability is another important part of the Birkenstock brand character. Throughout the production process, the company puts an emphasis on using methods that are good for the earth. They try to use sustainable materials like cork and natural latex, which can be made over and over again and have a small effect on the earth. Birkenstock also tries to reduce trash and use less energy in its factories. Birkenstock is a leader in eco-friendly footwear because of its commitment to preservation.
Birkenstock's products show how committed it is to its values. The brand has a wide variety of slippers, shoes, and boots with their signature contoured footbeds, which are made to provide the most comfort and support. Birkenstock shoes are known for their unique style, which features clean lines and a timeless simplicity. Their goods fit a wide range of lifestyles and tastes, making them appealing to both fashion-conscious people and those who want comfort and practicality.
In conclusion, Birkenstock's history is strongly rooted in the skill and craftsmanship of its founder, Johann Adam Birkenstock. The goal of the brand is to make shoes that are good for your feet and your overall health. Birkenstock's beliefs of tradition, craftsmanship, and sustainability have had a big impact on the brand's image and product line. By sticking to these values, Birkenstock has become a trusted and respected name in the shoe business, offering customers shoes that are comfortable, long-lasting, and good for the environment.
what special about Birkenstock
Styles
The Birkenstock Madrid is a classic and iconic sandal that has been a staple in the footwear industry for decades. It was first introduced in the 1960s and quickly gained popularity for its simple yet comfortable design. Since its inception, the Madrid has become synonymous with the Birkenstock brand and has remained a beloved style for those seeking both style and comfort in their footwear.
Read More
Time line
1774
The roots of the shoemaking dynasty can be found in 1774 when Johannes Birkenstock is mentioned. He later even became ‘master craftsmen in shoemaking’.
Learn More20/01/1774A FOOTWEAR REVOLUTION 1897
At the turn of the 20th century, everyday life in Germany was undergoing a rapid transformation. Steam engines, railroads and electricity had already become commonplace across much of Europe, and now individual trades were being industrialized as a burgeoning middle class brought with it a growing desire for consumer goods. New factories were built to keep up with demand, which resulted in many artisans being left by the wayside, including traditional shoemakers. No longer required to make shoes from scratch, many of these craftspeople were downgraded to the role of cobblers, whose sole task was to mend factory-made footwear. Many shoemakers nevertheless, had maintained their reputation as high quality shoemakers. Young Konrad Birkenstock was amongst these.
Learn More10/10/18971902 THE FOOTBED
In 1902, his experiments led to the production of the first ‘insole’. Up until that point insoles for curing or healing damaged feet were made out of metal because the mainstream view was that the foot could only be healed or stabilised when it was ‘fixed’ in place. But for Konrad, insoles weren’t just about healing damaged feet or alleviating foot illnesses, they were crucial to all round foot health.
Learn More05/06/1902THE SYSTEM BIRKENSTOCK 1920
Konrad Birkenstock’s insoles were a success in his local area. But knowing he had hit upon a powerful solution for foot pain and walking problems, he was determined to spread the word far and wide. He began to travel across Germany, Switzerland and Austria giving technical lectures to fellow shoemakers about the benefits of the ‘System Birkenstock’ – a combination of handcrafted shoes made with orthopedic lasts and featuring the flexible footbed.
Learn More01/01/1920MADRID: THE ORIGINAL FOOTBED SANDAL 1963
Carl Birkenstock took his father’s ideas and developed them even further. In 1936, he patented the ‘ideal shoe’, a handcrafted piece of footwear based on the idea of enabling Naturgewolltes Gehen (walking as nature intended). But actually producing this shoe, which would allow for absolutely no level of compromise, proved to be impossible.
Learn More01/01/1963A NEW CLOSED MODEL: ZÜRICH 1964
Karl Birkenstock was on a roll. His creativity spurred him to design more groundbreaking styles over the next few years. In the fall of 1964, at the Foot and Shoe Trade Fair in Hamburg, he launched a new ‘closed model’, which later became known as the Zürich. In the design Karl kept the brutalist core.
Learn More01/01/1994THE TWO-STRAP SANDAL ARIZONA 1973
November 1973 was a major date in BIRKENSTOCK history, marking the arrival of Arizona. The design of the Arizona was based on the Zürich. Karl ‘opened’ the shoe, keeping t he silhouette and following his strict design rules......
Learn More14/11/1973THE CORK CLOG: BOSTON 1976
In the 1970s BIRKENSTOCK set about creating a cork clog. Rather than being heavy or rigid – like many of the wooden styles at the time – the ‘Boston’ was lightweight and flexible. It hit shelves in 1976. Available in numerous colors and materials......
Learn More01/01/1976THE THONG SANDAL: GIZEH 1983
This staple shape was not compatible with the all-important BIRKENSTOCK footbed, so Karl set about creating a version that was. After three years of meticulous tinkering, he finally perfected the brand’s first design-led selection of thong sandals. ‘Gizeh’ was the stand-out success, going on to form part of today’s core collection ......
Learn More01/01/1983MADE IN GERMANY 1991
The early 1990s was the beginning of a new era in Germany: the Berlin Wall had collapsed, along with the Eastern Bloc. It was cause for celebration. In the reunited country, many manufacturers were encouraged to expand their operations into the eastern states in a bid to create more jobs. With unwavering commitment to keeping the production of all sandals in Germany, BIRKENSTOCK enthusiastically began setting up sites across the state of Saxony. The first hub opened in Bernstadt on July 1st 1991 May Run Your Local Mountain debuts June The Cloudstratus introduces sequential cushioning July The first On hiking boot July On goes Back to the Source September The Cloud evolution continues November Roger Federer joins On
Learn More01/07/19912010 :NEW VENTURES Here & now
In the 2010s, and for the first time in the history of BIRKENSTOCK, day-to-day management moved away from the Birkenstock family. Markus Bensberg and Oliver Reichert, two highly experienced managers, took the reins - and the BIRKENSTOCK Group was created. This new way of working saw unprecedented growth in sales and an increasing relevance of the brand. After an incredibly successful 2021, co-CEO Markus Bensberg stepped back from management and day-to-day operations, leaving Oliver Reichert at the head of the company as sole CEO.....
Learn More01/01/2010