• 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.


    His hard work soon paid off and sales of his insoles began to rise. He was able to move from Frankfurt to Friedberg, where he could establish a factory to mass produce footbeds for the first time. But even though his ideas were based upon the research of professionals within the shoe-reform movement, in these experimental and exploratory early years the mainstream did not wholeheartedly embrace the idea.


    Konrad was accompanied by his son Carl on his travels around Europe – and later Carl established training courses for shoemakers and shoe sellers on the ‘System Birkenstock’. Once having been trained in the System, shop owners were permitted to use it in their shops and to sell BIRKENSTOCK footbeds.