The story of Birkenstock, now a worldwide emblem of comfort and style, originated in Germany in 1774, when Johann Adam Birkenstock, a village shoemaker, began making bespoke shoes.
Karl Birkenstock and the Birth of the “Perfect Shoe”
But it was his descendant Karl Birkenstock who changed shoes forever in the 1960s when he conceptualised the “perfect shoe”.
Karl created the anatomically contoured footbed, which is meant to support the natural arch of the foot and mimic the sensation of walking barefoot on soft ground.
His ambition changed the status of footwear from a mere expression of fashion to one that supports foot health.
Initially sold in medical and orthopaedic shoe stores, Birkenstocks became a winner with consumers who cared about healthy footwear and as you see our readers about the counter culture movement of the 1970s, for on account of their simplicity, durability and comfort.
What started as a functional means of shoe design became a global lifestyle icon - a meeting of craftsmanship and utility through time and geography.
Birkenstock Steps Into India
Birkenstock officially launched in the Indian market in 2019, bringing its 200-year-old legacy into cities like Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.
Its minimalist sandals quickly became a hit with India’s sense of its growing sustainable and wellness market.
Today, Birkenstock continues to be an homage to Karl's creativity - that true comfort does not go out of style wherever, whether one is on cobblestone in Germany inquire in the streets of India.
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