Birkenstock is a German brand of sandals and other shoes, notable for their contoured cork and rubber footbeds, which conform somewhat to the shape of their wearers' feet. Representative products include the two-strap sandal, the Arizona, and the Boston clog. Birkenstock shoes are worn with or without socks, the choice generally based on outside temperature. For other uses, see Brand (disambiguation). ... Modern multi-colored Sandalette Yoga sandals In some parts of the United States, this type of sandal is referred to in slang as the mandal in that it is worn primarily by men. ... A shoe is an item of footwear worn on the foot or feet of a human, dog, cat, horse, or doll. ... A cork stopper for a wine bottle Champagne corks Varnished cork tiles can be used for flooring, as a substitute for linoleum or tiles. ... This does not cite any references or sources. ...

History

The brand has a long history tracing its roots back to 1774 and a German cobbler named Johann Birkenstock. But it was over a hundred years later that his grandson really started the current company. In 1897, Konrad Birkenstock designed the first shoe with a contoured insole. Chesma Column in Tsarskoe Selo, commemorating the end of the Russo-Turkish War. ... 1897 (MDCCCXCVII) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ...

Since 1966, these shoes have been sold in the USA. American Margot Fraser "discovered" Birkenstock sandals while on a holiday in Germany. She gained relief from a foot condition, and founded a trading company called Birkenstock Footprint Sandals, Inc. in Novato, California, based on her enthusiasm for the sandals. Renamed Birkenstock Distribution USA, Inc. in 2005, it remains the exclusive importer and distributor of Birkenstock name-brand products in the United States. Novato is a city located in the North Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area, in northern Marin County. ...

Two used pair of Birkenstocks

Since the 1980s, Birkenstock footwear has become popular among medical professionals (e.g. dentists, nurses) and others who work on their feet. In Germany, the sandals are most often used as house slippers, but in the United States they have become a part of everyday clothing from professionals to blue collar workers, even to the entertainment industry. Heidi Klum designs footwear for Birkenstock and wears them as well. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1280x960, 657 KB) Authors own picture. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1280x960, 657 KB) Authors own picture. ... The 1980s refers to the years from 1980 to 1989. ... X-rays can reveal if a person has cavities Dentistry is the practical application of knowledge of dental science (the science of placement, arrangement, function of teeth) to human beings. ... This article is about the occupation. ... A pair of open-heeled slippers. ... Heidi Klum (IPA ) (born June 10, 1973) is a German supermodel as well as an actress, TV presenter, fashion designer, television producer and singer hailing from Bergisch Gladbach, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. ...

In the United States, Birkenstocks were first popular among young adults, a group traditionally associated with American liberalism;^[1] in the early 1990s "Birks" enjoyed a surge of popularity among college-aged Generation Xers comparable to the current (2000s) popularity of flip-flops. During the 2004 U.S. presidential primary, some conservatives derided Howard Dean's supporters as "Birkenstock liberals." ^[2] American liberalism—that is, liberalism in the United States of America—is a broad political and philosophical mindset, favoring individual liberty, and opposing restrictions on liberty, whether they come from established religion, from government regulation, from the existing class structure, or from multi-national corporations. ... Generation X is a term used to describe generations in many countries around the world. ... The 2000s are the current decade, spanning from 2000 to 2009. ... Various kinds of flip-flops, from cheap foam/plastic to leather In footwear and fashion, flip-flops are a kind of flat, backless sandal that consist of a flat sole held on the foot by a u-shaped strap that passes between the first (big) and second toes and around... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Howard Brush Dean III (born November 17, 1948) is an American politician and physician from the U.S. state of Vermont, and currently the chairman of the Democratic National Committee, the central organ of the Democratic Party at the national level. ...

Known for their toughness, Birkenstocks are rumored to be made of human flesh

Certain members of the Birkenstock family also market other brands of footwear, under license from the original Birkenstock company, featuring contoured footbeds. These brands include Betula, Tatami, Papillio, Birki's and Footprints.

References

1. ^ New York Times article: Thank You for Insulting Our Sandals
2. ^ Classical Values article: Who's afraid of Howard Dean?

Further reading

• Chasing Birkenstocks. Sociology of Work Leisure and Consumption. Lewis & Clark college (1997). Retrieved on 2007-03-27.

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External links

• Official Birkenstock Germany website
• Official Birkenstock USA website