Birkenstock Shoes is the popular shoe brand from Germany. Birkenstock is know for the patented contoured foot beds that are made from rubber and cork, which enable them to follow the shape of the feet of the person who wears Birkenstock Shoes.

The history of Birkenstock shoes

The brand Birkenstock came from the name Johann Adam Birkenstock who was registered in several church archives as a shoemaker in 1774. The contoured foot bed technology that was the precursor of the modern Birkenstock shoes was started in 1897 by Konrad Birkenstock, Johann’s grandson.

Konrad also contributed another development in the Birkenstock shoe technology. Konrad developed the flexible arch support inserted in Birkenstock shoes, in 1902. These were further developed by Karl Birkenstock in 1964 and these gave birth to the Birkenstock sandals.

Margot Fraser, an American who found relief for her foot condition through wearing Birkenstock sandals, which she discovered during a trip to Germany, founded the Birkenstock Footprint Sandals, Inc. in California in 1967. This trading company led the importation and sales of Birkenstock shoes in the United States. In 2005, the company was renamed as the Birkenstock Distribution, USA Inc. Up to the present, it is the exclusive Birkenstock importer and distributor in the United States.

Who wears Birkenstock shoes?

Birkenstock Shoes gained popularity in the medical profession and in other fields where the people need to do activities while standing up. While in Germany, Birkenstock is commonly associated with home footwear, in the United States, the brand is known as an everyday footwear finding wearers in both white collar and blue-collar workers. Birkenstock even appealed to models and celebrities including model Heidi Klum, who also designs Birkenstock footwear.

Birkenstock is popular with college-aged students who wear them usually with jeans and without socks. The brand also became involved in the American liberalism, which took place in the 1990’s. The surge of popularity of Birkenstock in the 90’s may be compared with that of the flip-flops in the 2000’s.

Birkenstock in the media

Birkenstock was also mentioned in some audio works. The 1994 punk rock album, “Punk in Drublic” by NOFX, was inspired by the brand. Several songs also referred to the brand including those of TOOL’s and Glen Philips/Toad the Wet Sprocket.

In The Office, an American TV show, a character owns a pair of Birkenstocks, which he stores in his car. There was also an incident when a Birkenstock shoe struck the lead singer of the band Jane’s Addiction during their LA concert.