Many people know about Birkenstock shoes and sandals, but most have no idea that Birkenstock is a German based country that has been around for hundreds of years. As with any company, it is always interesting to know about how it was founded, how it has evolved over the years, how it came to America and where it is headed. The following is a short summary of the history of Birkenstocks. If you want to read a full history of Birkenstocks or verify any of this information, you can visit their website directly at Birkenstock.com.

Konrad Birkenstock, grandson of a shoemaker, came up with the idea of contoured shoe soles in 1897. He noted that despite the natural arches in people’s feet, the insides of shoes were always flat. He had the ingenious idea to contour shoes to the natural shape of feet, thus making them much more comfortable to wear and walk in. By 1902, Konrad Birkenstock had designed the first flexible arch support to be worn inside regular shoes. Carl Birkenstock soon joined the team and the arch supports began to sell all over Europe. Soon, Birkenstocks were being advertised via seminars and training sessions throughout Europe, and doctors and medical specialist endorsed the company.

In 1964, Carl Birkenstock’s grandson, Karl, took the arch supports to the next level and created the first Birkenstock shoe. By this time the name Birkenstock was famous throughout Europe and people already trusted this brand. Doctors continued to support the company and even recommend the shoes to their patients. Karl Birkenstock had no trouble selling the shoes as soon as they entered the market.

Birkenstocks first came to the United States in 1966. A woman by the name of Margot Fraser was on vacation in Germany and her feet had been killing her. Long days of walking on hard pavement were causing her a great deal of pain so she sought out a comfortable pair of shoes. Somebody at a spa recommended she try a pair of Birkenstocks and she immediately felt relief. The Birkenstock shoes not only made the rest of her trip more comfortable but, upon returning to California, she realized that her chronic foot pain that she had been experiencing for years, had vanished! She was convinced of the health and comfort benefits of the shoes and decided to import them to the United States. Margot Fraser became the founder of Birkenstock USA.

In 1973, “the Arizona” style of Birkenstock was introduced in the United States. This is the style of sandal that is often pictured when someone thinks of a Birkenstock shoe. With the release of this new model, the popularity of Birkenstocks skyrocketed in the United States, and they have been popular ever since. By 1985, there were over 40 different styles of Birkenstock shoes on the American market. The popularity in Europe was rising as well.

By 2002, Birkenstock USA was 100% employee owned and Margot Fraser had passed on her shares of the company to her employees. The company continues to thrive with dozens of styles sold throughout the country.

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