Birkenstock

Orthopedic sandals of the German company Birkenstock are now popular with fashionistas, bloggers, stars, they can be found on catwalks and in glossy lookbooks. Let's find out how the history of the brand began and how these, unassuming outwardly, sandals managed to conquer the whole world.

The first shoemaker named Birkenstock is mentioned in 1774. More than a century later, in 1896, Konrad Birkenstock continued the craft of his ancestor, which expanded into two shoe stores in Frankfurt am Main.

In 1902, there was a real revolution in the world of footwear - he presented the world with an innovative orthopedic insole that follows the curves of the foot. This year can be considered the beginning of a long journey for the Birkenstock brand.

In the 1920s, production grew to such an extent that the owners seriously thought about buying the plant. In 1925, they acquired a factory in Friedberg, where, among other things, they began to produce unique orthopedic insoles - Blue Footbed, and the brand's products began to be supplied throughout Europe.

In 1932, it was decided to conduct orthopedic seminars, which were attended by leading specialists and doctors from all over the world. They unanimously accepted the Birkenstock system as the authoritative guide to orthopedics.

In the early 60s, sandals were created and became popular as fitness shoes. He developed a unique flexible material that served as the sole for the shoe that is today known as birkenstock.

But they got widespread thanks to the American Margot Fraser, who was offered orthopedic sandals on vacation in Germany as a means of getting rid of pain in the legs.

As is usually the case, she faced many difficulties - the stores simply refused to take on the implementation of "nondescript sandals" that had nothing to do with fashion.

Then it occurred to her to put them up for sale in health food stores. At first, the demand for them was small, but as eco-trends and healthy lifestyles developed, birkenstocks gained immense popularity.

They began to appear on the catwalks back in the 90s, but women of fashion still did not look in their direction. They became part of fashion looks only in 2013, when total conformism was replaced by sloppy normcore and practical urban.

The company itself has repeatedly bothered with various American and European awards, one of the most significant is the British award for a design that never goes out of style and suits people of any age.

Birkenstock sandals and flip-flops have a recognizable design. Most often these are 1, 2 or 3 straps located across. Due to the presence of buckles, you can adjust the fullness of the shoe.

A branded orthopedic insole is built into absolutely any model, which resembles a footprint in the sand. It protects the leg from fatigue and helps to maintain proper posture.

It is made from environmentally friendly material - the milky juice of rubber plants, so it also has an antibacterial effect.

Today, the brand's assortment includes a variety of shoes - sandals and slippers, boots, demi-season boots and even house slippers.

Birkenstock slippers are presented in three popular models:

• Madrid is a single strap model that was invented back in the early 60s. Has long been a success as a fitness shoe.
• Arizona is the most popular double strap model. After Kate Moss was photographed in them in the 90s, flip flops have gained cult status and are the most common of the entire range of the brand.

• Florida is a model with three straps, which is also in great demand among fashionistas. Thanks to the large number of jumpers, it is securely held on the leg.

The most popular model of sandals is called Milano. It is an improved version of the Arizona model, with two wide straps across the foot and one on the heel. This allows you to even more securely fix the shoes on the foot, which is especially important for those who are accustomed to walking a lot.

The Rio model looks elegant. It is very similar to ordinary sandals - one strap in the front and another strap that covers the arch of the foot. Contrary to expectations, this pair is not very popular.

Clogs "Birkenstock" are presented in two models - Boston and Amsterdam. These are closed-front flip flops that also resemble clogs. “Amsterdam” is a laconic model without any additional elements, and “Boston” is complemented by a branded strap.

The first five pairs of this model, called the Gizeh, went on sale in the early 80s. They quickly gained popularity among fans of flip flops, because they combine stylish design and the convenience of classic birken stocks.

The children's lineup does not differ at all from the adult - in the assortment you will find all the above models, only in smaller sizes.

The only difference is a more diverse design, models for girls are decorated with flowers, images of Disney characters and heroes of other cartoons.

First of all, birkenstock should be selected according to the fullness of the leg. When placing an order on the official website, you can choose a model for high and normal completeness (regular) and for standard and narrow (narrow).Each of them is marked with a special badge, which is applied to the inner side of the sole.

All shoes come in size by size, although some think the birkenstock are half size larger. In fact, a margin of half a centimeter is specially provided by the manufacturer - this allows you to walk in these shoes for a long time and comfortably.

It is safe to say that birken stocks are universal. They can be worn almost all year round - fortunately, they go well with coarse melange socks. Let's consider the most stylish combinations.

The most common option is to wear flip flops with different pants. They look as good as other summer shoes with rolled up or cropped jeans and trousers.

The perfect summer look is birkenstock and shorts. This is everyday casual, which will help out always when there is nothing to wear. Shorts can be almost anything, but the most popular, of course, are denim.

It seems that rough sandals and skirts can hardly meet in the same bow, but in practice everything is different. They look great with a knitted pencil skirt, with a fluffy midi-length skirt and a skirt made of flying fabric.

Oddly enough, these orthopedic flip flops are made to be worn with a lingerie-style dress. The result is a spectacular play on contrasts - a feminine sundress with thin straps and rough voluminous sandals.

These wide leg cropped trousers are still popular and can be easily paired with Birkenstock sandals. It turns out a very harmonious relaxed look - nothing hinders movement, your legs feel as comfortable as possible, and you look very stylish.

Birkenstocks can complement not only a casual but also a sporty look.

Moreover, they will look good in a businesslike manner if you do not have a strict dress code at work. Wear them with tailored trousers, complemented by a T-shirt or relaxed shirt.

Most of the happy owners of Birkenstock shoes speak positively about them. Of course, there are those who consider it rude and uninteresting, but here you can draw an analogy with uggs - someone loves, someone hates, but no one remains indifferent.

Customers note a wide range of models, excellent orthopedic effect and excellent German quality. They show high wear resistance and serve for more than one season.

True, you need to be prepared for the fact that over time the sole will slightly change shape - as a rule, the socks are slightly bent upwards. It's all about the material from which it is made - it is quite soft. However, this does not affect wearing comfort.

The girls consider the high cost to be the main disadvantage - it starts at $ 30 per pair. However, when you consider the length of the wear and the comfort they provide to your feet, this price is justified.