Birkenstock has truly stood the test of time. Dating all the way back to its humble origins in 1774 in Langen-Bergheim, Germany, the footwear brand was founded by master cobbler Konrad Birkenstock when he began manufacturing and selling durable insoles to the public. These insoles—made of cork—offered unparalleled comfort and support to all, with the deep and flexible footbed moulding to the shape of the wearer’s feet over time.
Fast forward two and a half centuries and the heritage brand is still the shining example for comfortable and lasting footwear. Its three most iconic sandal models—namely the Madrid, Arizona and Gizeh—all have one thing in common: they feature the traditional Birkenstock footbed. Its anatomical shape is the result of decades of orthopaedic experience passed through the Birkenstock family and seamlessly translated onto their products. The Madrid (dubbed as “the mother of all footbed sandals”) was the first silhouette of sandal developed, and was inspired by the unembellished, functional aesthetic of brutalist architecture.
Ten years after the Madrid’s release came the Arizona, which to date has been the brand’s bestselling model. A symbol of counterculture back in the 70s, its distinctive double strap and versatile rounded-toe design made it a ubiquitous sandal option within the fashion world. The Arizona sandals have laid the blueprint for several of Birkenstock’s biggest fashion collaborations with luxury powerhouse brands, from the likes of Dior to Rick Owens. Lastly, the Gizeh offers a thong sandal alternative to the classic strap design, and was released for the first time in gold and silver colours.
In celebration of the 60th, 50th, and 40th anniversaries of the Madrid, Arizona, and Gizeh respectively, Birkenstock is bringing back the beloved sandals in their original materials in a limited capsule collection. The three models are released globally, and come in various colours with each pair individually numbered. Available with every purchase too is a pair of Birkenstock socks inspired from the archives, exuding a vintage look and feel that would no doubt pair harmoniously with any of the sandals. The sandals will also come packaged in a different box specially designed for this exclusive release.
The Birkenstock anniversary collection is strictly limited in stock according to each model’s respective year of birth, with 1,963 pairs for the Madrid, 1,973 pairs for the Arizona, and the Gizeh batch being capped at 1,983 pairs. Below, peruse the three various models and their varied colourways, available for purchase on Birkenstock’s official website now.
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Birkenstock Madrid sandal in brown, $180
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Birkenstock Madrid sandal in Pigalle red, $180
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Birkenstock Madrid sandal in Emerald green, $180
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Birkenstock Gizeh sandal in brown, $200
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Birkenstock Gizeh sandal in beige, $200
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Birkenstock Gizeh sandal in dark red, $200
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Birkenstock Arizona sandal in black, $190
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Birkenstock Arizona sandal in white, $190
The Birkenstock Madrid, Gizeh and Arizona sandals are all available exclusively at Paragon Orchard.
