Reviled and revered, Birkenstock has made its mark, not just on the shoe industry, but the fashion industry as a whole. From having quite literally invented the footbed to teaming up with legendary designers, 

The brand has come a long way since its first steps. And for a brand that’s older than the United States, you’d expect there to be a lot of impacts.

Bespoke Unit

Since making its way to the United States in 1966, Birkenstock has only grown its audience, first finding popularity with the hippie crowd. Though its shoes saw success with free-spirit types, it would also be pegged as an ugly shoe by the fashion elite. As fashion cycles are want to do, however, Birkenstock’s infamous shoe eventually grew on its critics, paving the way for other divisive shoes like Crocs and has been fully cemented into the culture as a staple shoe across all style camps.

HypeBeast

Wearing appropriate footwear while working from home can be important for creating a sense of normality in the working day. While people may not have to get dressed in the same way as they once did, wearing solid shoes creates a link to their trusted routine. With many wanting a mix of structure and comfort from their day-to-day footwear, Birkenstock’s silhouettes have made it the perfect shoe for the present moment.

Birkenstock’s new fans may have come to the brand through its recent collaborations or through their search for quarantine footwear, but the reasons for its popularity are the same as always. Throughout its history, the brand has used comfort and durability as watchwords, and these are values that have stood the test of time. While Birkenstock has rejected the trend cycle sticking instead to its core beliefs and core silhouettes,  it has found new popularity as an everyman shoe.

Vogue

A pair of Birkenstock Boston can be styled with tailored pieces for a chic look as they add a cool outdoorsy touch to any outfit. Also, they can be seen as strong contenders for your new house shoes.

Published on HOLR Magazine.