Birkenstock’s Handmade Boots Tell a Tale of Traditional German Craft
Birkenstock's collaboration with Schuh Bertl is a nod of mutual respect, from one craft-based, family-owned German shoemaker to another. A most tangible symbol of this bond is a top-tier Birkenstock boot entrenched in that shared DNA.
Birkenstock, backed by 250 years of sandal making, and Schuh Bertl, which has been in the business of handmade shoes for over 100 years and includes British royalty among its customers, come together and trade expertise.
This exercise in artisanal craftmanship comes to life across two brown suede boots: one ankle-height and another far taller, knee-high counterpart.
With its Italian leather uppers and Goodyear-welted Vibram soles, the old-school handiwork of Schuh Bertl is clear to see on the boot. Then, peek inside, and the Birkenstock intent emerges.
Inside the shoe sits Birkenstock’s deep blue insoles, a fairly recent innovation engineered for posture alignment and natural foot movement.
You can also see that Birkenstock legacy manifest in the boots' materials and make, their tan suede exterior looking like a blown-up Birkenstock Montana shoe or Boston clog.
Part of Birkenstock’s top-of-the-range 1774 line, the two boots arrive on the brand’s website on February 6. And it's giving me flashbacks to another recent Birkenstock 1774 collaboration.
This coming together with Schuh Bertl follows in the footsteps of Birkenstock 1774 x Filson, a similar combination of two longstanding companies celebrating traditional shoemaking with some patiently sumptuous footwear.
And it produced a similar result: suave leather shoes with a slight Italian twist and uncompromising craft.
Birkenstock 1774 is where the German brand's finest craftsmanship lives. Meanwhile, Birkenstock 1774's collaborations are where the German brand meets other like-minded, craft-based companies.
