About Us

Our Values

The things that make us who we are.


THE BIRKENSTOCK CHRONICLE



The Birkenstock family have been pioneers in foot healththrough their iconic innovations.Explore the key moments,1774 to here & now.

  • THE EARLY DAYS OF SHOEMAKING——1774

  • A FOOTWEAR REVOLUTION——1897

  • A FLEXIBLE AND ANATOMICALLY SHAPED INSOLE——1902

  • THE SYSTEM BIRKENSTOCK——1920

  • MADRID: THE ORIGINAL BIRKENSTOCK-FOOTBED SANDAL——1963

  • MORE ICONIC MODELS——1964-1983

  • BIRKENSTOCK'S CONVERSATION WITH FASHION——1985

  • MADE IN GERMANY——1991

NEW VENTURES



Here & now

In the 2010s, and for the first time in the history of BIRKENSTOCK, day-to-day management moved away from the Birkenstock family. Markus Bensberg and Oliver Reichert, two highly experienced managers, took the reins - and the BIRKENSTOCK Group was created. This new way of working saw unprecedented growth in sales and an increasing relevance of the brand. After an incredibly successful 2021, co-CEO Markus Bensberg stepped back from management and day-to-day operations, leaving Oliver Reichert at the head of the company as sole CEO.

But while evolution is inevitable, some things stay the same. The footbed, Konrad Birkenstock’s revolutionary inception from 1902, is still a cornerstone of the BIRKENSTOCK philosophy of ‘Naturgewolltes Gehen’ (walking as nature intended). With the introduction of sleep systems and certified natural cosmetics, BIRKENSTOCK continues to develop this principle with a holistic approach. BIRKENSTOCK sleep systems represent a further development of the anatomically shaped footbed into an anatomically shaped bed. Just like the footbed, BIRKENSTOCK sleep systems adapt to the shape of the body and provide optimal support. Meanwhile, BIRKENSTOCK NATURAL SKIN CARE, the range of certified natural cosmetics, also focuses on general health. These natural cosmetic products are made in Germany and are completely free from chemicals. In their formulation we find a familiar friend: natural cork, which gives BIRKENSTOCK footbeds their elasticity. This is a key component of these cosmetics’ active ingredients.



As the company gears up production across its offering to meet increasing demand, it has renewed its commitment to German manufacture. Underlining this, a new production facility is being built in the north-eastern German town of Pasewalk. 
The Birkenstock family’s historic mission, to make walking as nature intended accessible to everyone, feels more alive than ever.

OUR BRANDS

Consciously healthy shoes


Since 1774, we've been thinking of ways we – the inventor of the footbed – can make the lives of our customers better and richer – with a good shoe for all conceivable situations in life. In an overwhelmingly price-driven consumer world characterized by cheap products made in Asia under precarious conditions for both people and nature, BIRKENSTOCK, with its premium quality products, creates a reasonable alternative for those who place value on function and quality.

That's why we manufacture our products in Germany under the best conditions for our brand in our own production facilities with an extensive amount of handwork. Every sandal undergoes 17 work steps. It takes well over 100 highly skilled hand movements to make the completed product for our closed BIRKENSTOCK models. Closed shoes are made in workshops in Portugal in accordance with the principles of a centuries-old tradition of hand craftsmanship.

Whether they are produced by hand or using industrial methods – all BIRKENSTOCK products meet the highest quality standards in the shoe industry anywhere in the world. We make just as few compromises when we source our materials (cork, natural latex, copper, brass, wool felt and the best leather) as we do when we process them. Our raw materials come from sustainable natural resources. Where possible, we source these materials in Europe.