Birkenstock — More Than a Shoe. A Way of Walking.
With roots tracing back to 1774, Birkenstock is one of the most remarkable phenomena in the history of footwear. In an industry driven by short-lived trends, the brand has spent over two and a half centuries guided by a single conviction: that great footwear starts with an honest respect for the human foot.
In 1902, Konrad Birkenstock created the first anatomically shaped insole, a flexible cork-based construction he named the Footbed. In 1963, his grandson Karl brought this idea to its most iconic form: the Original Birkenstock-Footbed Sandal. The design launched to little fanfare at a trade fair in Düsseldorf — and went on to become one of the most recognised silhouettes in the world. The footbed itself has never changed.
While much of the industry moved production abroad in pursuit of lower costs, Birkenstock stayed put. Over 95% of all products are manufactured at the brand's own sites across Germany, using natural materials including cork, natural latex, wool felt and leather, each chosen for durability and longevity. The idea of relocating to exploit cheaper labour has always been at odds with the Birkenstock ethos.
Birkenstock & Be We
Birkenstock joins the Be We universe as one of the rare global icons whose values have always aligned with conscious, responsible consumption. A brand that never needed to reinvent itself, because it got the essentials right from the very beginning.
