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With more than 250 years of history, it’s no surprise that Birkenstock is a leader in the world of sandals. The cork-soled slip-ons boast leather and suede uppers as well as a durable rubber outsole to make them some of the most versatile sandals on the market. But staying at the top for 250 years is no easy feat. It’s initiatives like Birkenstock x CSM that keep the label fresh and relevant.

Central Saint Martin’s is one of the world’s most highly respected fashion universities, feeding a seemingly endless list of talented designers into fashion every year. That makes it a hotspot of creativity and inspiration, and the ideal place for a heritage label to go looking for a bold new take on flagship styles.

Birkenstock gave a handful of MA Fashion students the opportunity to rework some of its most popular silhouettes. After helping with historical research, Birkenstock left the designers to create something new and exciting before picking four winners — Saskia Lenaerts, Alecsander Rothschild, Alex Wolfe, and Dingyun Zhang — whose designs would be issued under the Birkenstock name.

After one of the label’s biggest years to date — playing host to a range of collaborations from Rick Owens, Jil Sander, and more — this collaboration holds great significance. These striking new iterations of classic silhouettes are part of an exciting new era for the German label and you can shop the styles below.

Shop the best of the collection below.

Tallahassee

Dingyun Zhang

Alecsander Rothschild

Saskia Lenaerts

Alex Wolfe

Image on Highsnobiety
Birkenstock x CSMRotterdam Sandals
$379
Buy at Matches

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