Birkenstocks are for people who care how shoes feel more than how they look. Since its inception in 1774, the brand has focused on one thing: letting feet move the way nature intended. While fashion trends shifted, Birkenstock stayed rooted in foot health, not hype.
At the heart of it all is the cork-latex footbed. Deep heel cup, wide toe box, springy sole. These three parts work together to distribute weight, support arches and improve posture. Each pair is Crafted and finished in Germany, then shipped to over 50 stores across 27 Indian cities, alongside a growing online presence.
Walking as Nature Intended
In frame: Birkenstock Boston
In a lifetime, your feet will carry you far enough to circle the Earth three times. Each one contains 26 bones, 33 joints, 20 muscles and over 100 ligaments. Long ago, when we walked barefoot, feet strengthened with every step. Modern life does the opposite. Flat surfaces and restrictive shoes weaken the arches and misalign posture. The damage doesn’t stop at the feet. It travels upward through knees, hips and spine.
Birkenstock saw the problem and responded with a simple idea: walking as nature intended. In German, it’s called Naturgewolltes Gehen. Every pair is built to support your feet to walk as nature intended.
The Footbed: A Return to Form
The word footbed first appeared in 1913, not as branding but as innovation. What if shoes didn’t force your feet to fit them? The footbed mirrors the imprint your foot makes in soft sand. It starts at the heel, spreads weight across the arch, rolls forward to the ball, and finishes at the toe. Each phase has a design feature to support it:
- Deep heel cup for stability
- Longitudinal and transverse arches for alignment
- A toe bar to promote grip
- Heel moulding to engage leg muscles
- Raised edges to protect the toes
Unlike foam that flattens, the cork-latex core adapts to your foot over time.
From Cork to Classic: The Human Touch
Every Birkenstock passes through around 50 pairs of hands. Craftspeople cut, assemble and finish each component with precision. Machines assist, but the skill lies in the people behind the product.
Much of the production equipment was designed by the Birkenstock family. Even today, all manufacturing takes place in Germany. No outsourcing. No diluted quality. It begins with the footbed. Once shaped and lined, the upper is added, buckles are attached, soles are pressed, and each pair is inspected repeatedly before it leaves the factory.
250 Years and Still Evolving
In frame: Birkenstock Arizona
Since 1774, it has remained a quiet force in fashion, never loud but always present. Its formula is simple: honour anatomy, use good materials, and let comfort speak for itself. Even Steve Jobs, the king of minimalism, made space for Birkenstocks. His favourite Arizonas were auctioned off decades later as cultural artefacts.
Meet the Icons
In frame: Birkenstock Mayari
The core collection shows how timeless design works in real life. These aren’t seasonal hits. They’re staples built to last:
- Arizona – The original two-strap silhouette. Always relevant. Pair it with tailored trousers or raw denim for effortless, off-duty cool. Works just as well with socks when the temperature dips.
- Gizeh – Minimalist thong style with support and grip. Clean lines meet comfort; style it with floaty dresses, linen sets, or wide-leg pants for a refined, summer-ready look.
- Boston – Closed-toe, slip-on comfort that works year-round. It’s the cosy all-rounder. Wear it with relaxed knits in winter or cropped chinos in spring. Socks optional.
- Madrid – The sleek one-strap style that goes with everything. Minimal but never boring. Think relaxed tailoring, oversized shirts, or anything that needs a sharp, unfussy finish
- Mayari – Criss-cross elegance with a toe loop for extra hold. Delicate but grounded. Perfect with maxis, co-ords, or anything that leans a little boho without trying too hard
Why It Works
In frame: Birkenstock Gizeh
In a Birkenstock, every part does something. From the footbed to the edges, nothing is decorative without function. Your body recognises the support instantly. This isn’t footwear that follows fashion. It redefines it. By designing around how the body naturally moves, Birkenstock created a quiet revolution in style.
