The Unlikely Return of Birkenstock

https://www.thecut.com/2018/08/cathy-horyn-on-birkenstocks-unlikely-rise.html

by gpresot • 8 years ago

71 68 8 years ago

thecut.com

flattone• 8 years ago

Unlikely? Overdue. - Seattle reader

wmeredith• 8 years ago

Unlikely? It's fashion: it's cyclical.

ChuckMcM• 8 years ago

I did find my Birkenstocks to be some of the most comfortable sandals I had owned, after breaking them in of course. What was interesting was that if you didn't wear them pretty much non-stop for a couple of months in warm weather, the soles wouldn't do the whole re-mold themselves to the shape of your foot thing.

These days I've replaced them with a pair of Chacos which are just as comfortable and I can throw them in the washing machine if they get too dirty.

sdrothrock3• 8 years ago

I can throw them in the washing machine if they get too dirty.

I bought my first pair of Birkenstocks in March and this is basically the issue I'm running into; with everyday wear, rain or shine, they get very funky very quickly and cleaning them is tedious and time-consuming.

The heel wore away quickly too and now the cork is rapidly disintegrating... I'm not too eager to buy another pair.

jamesvandyne• 8 years ago

You can take them to the shop and repair / replace the heel and cork. Cost-wise I think my Bostons were $150 new and to fully replace the cork and sole was about $90. Much cheaper than a new pair. Just the sole wouldn't be nearly that much.

ce4• 8 years ago

Usually if the heel wears too quickly the shoe size was chosen one size too small.

tcbawo• 8 years ago

It was interesting to read about industry in Gorlitz. It's a quaint town that was divided between Poland (Zgorzelec) and Germany following World War II along the river which became the border. I once visited there in the early 2000s. From what I recall, the bridge between them was destroyed in the middle, with both ends left standing. After the fall of Communism, it was converted to an art installation.

mikestew5• 8 years ago

Return? Birkies, umm, left?

They’ve been going in and out of style about every twenty years since the Sixties, like many things fashion. Like a faithful Apple user that’s been clinging to Macs through thick and thin since 1985, I can’t tell you how many pair I’ve had since the early 80s.

ianai• 8 years ago

Any advice on cleaning them? Seems to be a problem from other comments.

mikestew5• 8 years ago

From the article I gather Birkenstock makes EVA sandals now? I wonder if that’s a factor. Mine are the “traditional” style, leather straps and footbed. I’ve never had a problem with mine, nor a complaint from my wife, who is more than happy to tell me when my running shoes stink.

In summary, I guess I’m not the person to ask.

idiocratic• 8 years ago

Just scrub the footbed with water and marseille soap. It always worked for me with the traditional ones made of leather. A lighter method is to scrub some bicarbonate of soda gently for a couple of minutes, leave for a day and then clean up.

Lunatic666• 8 years ago

In Germany it's a stereotype that all doctors or health work related people have to wear them, but they're not really trendy or anything. In Singapore where I live now, they however are quite visible in malls and people seem to like them here. For myself I think they're too hard, otherwise I'd prefer them over caging my feet in too much plastic. Good reminder to give them a try again.

najodleglejszy• 8 years ago

In Germany it's a stereotype that all doctors or health work related people have to wear them

that's interesting. where I live, most health professionals wear crocs. they're quite comfortable, light, and super easy to wash since you can just plop them in a sink.

hiker512• 8 years ago

I've seen very few doctors with Birkenstock here in Germany and several with Crocs. So maybe a local thing?

Also, Birkenstock soak up blood rather well. Would not recommend in such cases.

tapland• 8 years ago

In hospitals in Scandinavia all I see is crocs.

Psychology students seem to get attached to the birkenstocks and keep carrying them throughout their careers.

tcmb• 8 years ago

It's even its own category in their online store: https://www.birkenstock.com/us/shoes/professional/medical%2F...

With regards to Crocs and washability: Birkenstock seem to have introduced some moodels made from PU as well. Like OP, I'm more familiar with the white leather ones on health workers.

gammateam• 8 years ago

the general stereotype was that they were out of fashion

like if you were the one kid wearing "Payless Shoes" instead of the latest of the trendy "Nike" brand

but apparently Birkenstock are back in fashion, in Germany, amongst the younger generation

darklajid• 8 years ago

Can confirm (another German in Singapore here)

chrisseaton• 8 years ago

'Return' in this case means 'comes back into style', not that they literally went away. And as you said yourself in the very next sentence, 'they’ve been going in and out of style about every twenty years since the Sixties'. So yes they 'go' and 'return' every twenty years, and they have now reached the 'return' in this cycle again. Make sense?

coldtea• 8 years ago

So yes they 'go' and 'return' every twenty years, and they have now reached the 'return' in this cycle again. Make sense?

Not in the context of the TFA's title, which is about an "unlikely return".

Going in and out of style describes a totally likely (and even expected) return.

mikestew5• 8 years ago

Yeah, I know they never went away because I’ve continually owned at least one pair since about 1982 (implied by my original comment). You man-‘splainin’ me, bro?

hw_penfold• 8 years ago

This is likely an “advertorial” in case you’ve never heard the term. It’s an open secret that editorials are often paid advertising slots masquerading as news. No one likes to talk about it, because the by lines are real, which... means it’s really a product endorsement by the editor.

Just like every talk show host and interviewer is paying their guests to talk about some aside (which you can go out and buy right now!) involving something besides the guest’s direct project. Which is why nearly every interview out there is rehearsed. Not only is the guest promoting their latest movie, but oh look! They have some whimsical meandering tale about that time they were at the store and bought those amazing chocolate chips for some cookeis they baked! Wow!

But it’s not advertising. No one needs to clearly define that no less than 3 segments of their 90 minute podcast interview were staged anecdotes. Or that 40 minute sirius XM broadcast required three mentions of which bottled water they happened to be sipping. It’s just totally natural stuff.

It’s no coincidence that there seem to be these prevailing solar winds that gust in 30 day intervals. The news isn’t exactly the news. And this is a shining example.

QML• 8 years ago

I have two pairs of Birkenstocks, a cheap foam pair and another cork leather one that I just got. I've been wearing them for the past year, even in the winter or in the rain.

My conversion followed from the thought of having sock-less shoes, mainly from the cathartic feeling of removing them after a long day. A cousin recommended me to get a pair of Allbirds; initially, I liked the material of the shoe but it still didn't feel "breathable" (especially on a hot day in summer) and the wool began to rub my feet in a wrong way. This is in addition to the issue of build quality: the glue at the head of the shoe was visible, and also began to deteriorate; I've also had a friend whose Allbirds ripped during a session of basketball -- it lasted only a couple of months.

I'm not sure about how other people feel about this, but if a shoe or a sandal costs over $100, it should last at least for a year or two; I sincerely doubt that the difference between retail price and manufacturing cost is small enough to not cover a replacement 3 times over.

My issues with Allbirds stirred me to find a long-lasting, breathable pair of footwear. I don't remember if it was seeing people on campus wear sandals, or hearing about the longevity about Birkenstocks on reddit that drove me to buying a cheap, "test" pair.

After test-driving a foam version, I decided to invest the mid-tier Arizona sandal (which I'm still wearing today).

Back to the main question, is the "return" of Birkenstocks unlikely. I don't think so: the culture of the company seems to fit well with the demographics of millennials, who aren't afraid to splurge on items with great story / quality behind it.

And anecdotally, the first time I wore them outside, my friends jestingly compared my sense of fashion to a "white, sorority girl" (which I take to be an implication of their popular amongst college students).

taeric3• 8 years ago

I've yet to try any sandal that can last over a year or two. These included. Now, the absolute crap shoes that are only a dollar last a week or so. So, I agree that the higher quality ones last longer. However, I think simple math would show that no shoe actually lasts a long time. That said, I don't have the numbers to back this. Would love to be shown wrong.

finaliteration2• 8 years ago

I swear by Rainbow sandals. I just replaced a pair that I had for nearly 10 years.

craigsmansion2• 8 years ago

Maybe not anymore, but good shoes used to last a lifetime given proper maintenance and access to a skilled cobbler.

jorvi• 8 years ago

They're flip-flops instead of sandals (so rather used for leisure instead of hard work), but I can whole-heartedly recommend Havaianas. I just recently replaced a pair that lasted from 2011 up 'till a month ago, and I put them through some pretty strenuous activity at times.

SmellyGeekBoy2• 8 years ago

I think simple math would show that no shoe actually lasts a long time.

I've always worn Vans skate shoes (yes, even before they were "cool", believe it or not) and a pair typically lasts 2-3 years. That's wearing them all day every day.

yashevde• 8 years ago

Chacos -- well, at least the made in U.S.A. versions.

ginko• 8 years ago

My conversion followed from the thought of having sock-less shoes

But you're supposed to wear Birkenstocks with socks!

blattimwind• 8 years ago

Says who?

et-al• 8 years ago

Birkenstock has an actual distinctive product.

I'm more curious about the efforts to revive/remarket Champion and Fila as the streetwear brands they are today.

chriselles2• 8 years ago

Dr. Martens will always be cool. Birkenstocks, not so much.

DiabloD3• 8 years ago

Doc Martens don't actually exist anymore, however. It is just a brand that was outsourced to China and Vietnam, so unless you have an authentic vintage pair, you don't actually have a pair at all.

Doc Martens used to be made by a factory in the UK, and the company dropped them. Solovair still operates the old UK factory, using the same employees and the same machines and the same techniques (such as the Goodyear welt stitching technique), since it was theirs to begin with.

Literally, those classic Doc Martens were just a Solovair sole combined with a Greggs upper (the company that owned the Doc Marten brand), stitched together at the Solovair factory.

What Greggs really provided was patents owned by an actual guy named Doctor Marten, who tried to make more ergonomic boots; all of those patents involved the soles, of which the technology was licensed to Solovair and is now part of their product line as the patents have long since expired; even though it was a Greggs upper, there wasn't anything magic about the upper in a Doc Marten, it was all in the sole.

It isn't often HN and /r/BuyItForLife/ intersect.

SmellyGeekBoy2• 8 years ago

Surely by this logic even the "authentic vintage" Doc Martens weren't all that authentic either. If it's just a case of sticking a brand on someone else's shoe what does it matter where they're manufactured. ;)

chriselles2• 8 years ago

I wonder if that’s a common theme in shoe/boot making?

I’ve got more boots than Imelda Marcos had shoes

Vibrant soles matched to Meindl boot uppers for example.

Interesting story about Doc Martens.

jmathai• 8 years ago

I've had many Birkenstocks but these have lasted me since 1998 (20 years!) with just a single sole replacement.

The most comfortable shoes I've ever owned.

https://www.zappos.com/p/birkenstock-memphis-dark-brown-leat...

zubspace• 8 years ago

My wife loves Birkenstock and owns multiple of them, spread throughout our house.

I kept wearing my Adidas Adilette for years until they finally broke apart. It was a sad day. I was looking for a replacement but my wife convinced me of trying out Birkenstock being more healthy and all. She bought me a pair and they are the right size, but... oh dear... after a few seconds my feet really start to hurt like walking on fire!

I have a bit of a flat foot but otherwise no pain at all. Should i keep wearing them for health's sake? Will my feet eventually adapt to them and stop hurting?

I miss my Adilettes...

ajmurmann• 8 years ago

Never heard of anyone having that issue. However, as a life long Birkenstock customer I can tell you that they get vastly more comfortable with age as they get broken in more.

colourgarden• 8 years ago

I have a bit of a flat foot but otherwise no pain at all. Should i keep wearing them for health's sake? Will my feet eventually adapt to them and stop hurting?

Also experienced this (also flat footed) but the pain passed after a couple of days - stick it out.

The great thing about Birkenstocks are the versatility. Good for walking long distances in the city; light hiking in the countryside or getting your feet wet at the beach.

eggie5• 8 years ago

I have really flat feet and as you know the arch on birks is vey aggressive. so it just rubs on my foot super hard. If I know I'll be walking far I'll put athletic tape on my non-arch or else a blister will form. Now I have visible calluses build up, but I persist... :(

roter• 8 years ago

I used to wear Birkenstocks in the 90s (in my 20s) but I started getting knee pain. I switched to flat sneakers and haven't had a problem since.

panuma• 8 years ago

I see Birkenstocks as orthopedic shoes that shouldn't be worn on a healthy foot. Think what happens if you push a brick in an arch from below. Huaraches, Luna sandals etc. are a better option healthwise, people run ultramarathons in them and the design has thousands of years of history.

robin_reala• 8 years ago

Threw me for a minute before I remembered that Huarache isn’t just a Nike sub-brand.

mikestew5• 8 years ago

I am apparently ergonomically blessed in that despite running up to ultra marathon distances, I rarely get injured. Nothing unusual about my feet, average size 10 foot with a normal arch, average pronation. I’ve worn Birkies for thirty years without complaint.

And people will run ultras in/on anything. I would not be shocked to find out someone ran Western States 100 (miles) in a pair of Birkies.

olivermarks• 8 years ago

I smell marketing repositioning and public relations relaunch. Good luck to them though, I like what the brand stands for

oftenwrong• 8 years ago

This seems like a "submarine" article:

http://www.paulgraham.com/submarine.html

nemanjaboric• 8 years ago

I have (and I wear them at the moment) a single pair, while my wife has several pairs, so it might be we're biassed, but... here in Berlin, pretty much you can see them everywhere. In public transport, stores, on a street, in summer and in winter. They are _everywhere_, it's incredible.

renjimen• 8 years ago

The same here in Denmark. During the hottest days of the summer I wouldn't be exaggerating to say every other person was wearing them.

amelius• 8 years ago

I prefer Teva, because of the sturdiness, longevity, and the relatively large "bumper" area protecting the toes.

verelo• 8 years ago

Recently my partner had a strap break on her Birks that were only 3 months old. Knowing the age and reputation of the brand, i assumed this would be an easy fix. She emailed them, but got an unexpected response of effectively “bad luck”. They actually suggested we return them to the retailer, but she bought them on vacation, so that’s not possible in this case. Despite explaining that, they didn’t seem to care, in fact, they simply stopped responding to her replies. Needless to say, we are done with the brand now.

fosco• 8 years ago

this article headline and article itself strongly reminded me of Paul Grahams 'submarine' [0] article

[0] http://paulgraham.com/submarine.html

idoescompooters• 8 years ago

I saw a dude wearing them at the gym a few days ago. I didn't know what to think.

The Unlikely Return of Birkenstock

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