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.
Birkenstock, backed by 250 years of sandal making, and Schuh Bertl, which has been in the business of handmade shoes for over 100 years, including British royalty among its customers, combine 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 work of Birkenstock emerges.
Inside the shoe is Birkenstock’s deep blue insoles, a new innovation engineered for posture alignment and natural movement.
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.
And it produced a similar result: suave leather footwear with a slight Italian twist.
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.
