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Quality

Made in Germany: From Cork to sandal

The magic happens here.

BIRKENSTOCK products have been influenced over generations by a tireless creative quest for Naturgewolltes Gehen (walking as nature intended). We stand for extraordinary quality and next level functionality. This is a result of the high-quality materials we use and the fact that we manufacture in Germany, in production facilities owned exclusively by our company. An unusually high level of human skill and handcraft is utilised in our modern production processes. This is what makes BIRKENSTOCK products so special.

BIRKENSTOCK products have been influenced over generations by a tireless creative quest for Naturgewolltes Gehen (walking as nature intended). We stand for extraordinary quality and next level functionality. This is a result of the high-quality materials we use and the fact that we manufacture in Germany, in production facilities owned exclusively by our company. An unusually high level of human skill and handcraft is utilised in our modern production processes. This is what makes BIRKENSTOCK products so special.

Step by step

The anatomically contoured footbed, which has been developed by BIRKENSTOCK over more than a century, is the heart and soul of every sandal, clog and shoe the company produces. Only the best natural materials are used in footbed production. Within the footbed, layers of jute (a super strong and durable plant-based material), are combined with two different grades of granulated cork, which are bound together with a natural latex milk. These natural products are then topped with a leather lining created from European hides. It is a unique natural recipe that defines the BIRKENSTOCK footbed.

The anatomically contoured footbed, which has been developed by BIRKENSTOCK over more than a century, is the heart and soul of every sandal, clog and shoe the company produces. Only the best natural materials are used in footbed production. Within the footbed, layers of jute (a super strong and durable plant-based material), are combined with two different grades of granulated cork, which are bound together with a natural latex milk. These natural products are then topped with a leather lining created from European hides. It is a unique natural recipe that defines the BIRKENSTOCK footbed.

Moulding and baking the Footbed
Molding and baking the footbed

Before the baking process begins, the cork and latex mix is fed automatically into moulds, into which a base layer of jute has been added. Once the mix is in the mould, it is finished by hand — as even the smallest irregularities in the lay of the cork latex mix can lead to imperfections. Once the form is correctly moulded, and just prior to baking, the top covering of jute and leather linings are applied.

Before the baking process begins, the cork and latex mix is fed automatically into moulds, into which a base layer of jute has been added. Once the mix is in the mould, it is finished by hand — as even the smallest irregularities in the lay of the cork latex mix can lead to imperfections. Once the form is correctly moulded, and just prior to baking, the top covering of jute and leather linings are applied.

The magic formula
The magic formula

The quality and consistency of the cork-latex mix is regularly assessed. The formula is exact and has remained consistent for decades. It is the best kept secret at BIRKENSTOCK.

The quality and consistency of the cork-latex mix is regularly assessed. The formula is exact and has remained consistent for decades. It is the best kept secret at BIRKENSTOCK.

Assembly
Assembly

After baking, the footbeds are left to dry for 24 hours. They are then checked for small defects and splashes of latex and any imperfections are trimmed, sanded and scrubbed away. The perfectly-formed footbeds are then sent for sealing and coating, in order to make them hydrophobic.

After baking, the footbeds are left to dry for 24 hours. They are then checked for small defects and splashes of latex and any imperfections are trimmed, sanded and scrubbed away. The perfectly-formed footbeds are then sent for sealing and coating, in order to make them hydrophobic.

The Buckles

The buckles
Karl Birkenstock was well known as a tireless tinkerer. Karl’s legacy can be felt everywhere at BIRKENSTOCK, and nowhere more so than in the Markersdorf facility, where all BIRKENSTOCK buckles are manufactured. Practical, efficient solutions were important to Karl. He worked unflinchingly (some might say obsessively) to create the perfect steel fastening. His vision was to create the functional and uniquely designed equivalent of the three-pointed star of Mercedes in the BIRKENSTOCK buckle. In order to do this he wanted to execute each process as simply as possible.


Simplicity manifest

The buckle consists of the visible ‘superstructure’ of the buckle, plus a pin and a clip, which fastens the buckle to the leather of the sandal, clog or shoe. BIRKENSTOCK manufacturers up to 1.8 million units of these clips each working day. Each buckle is made from steel and covered in a layer of copper coating. They are then polished and finished in a deburring drum, a simple machine that emerged from Karl Birkenstock’s uniquely practical mind.

The buckles
Karl Birkenstock was well known as a tireless tinkerer. Karl’s legacy can be felt everywhere at BIRKENSTOCK, and nowhere more so than in the Markersdorf facility, where all BIRKENSTOCK buckles are manufactured. Practical, efficient solutions were important to Karl. He worked unflinchingly (some might say obsessively) to create the perfect steel fastening. His vision was to create the functional and uniquely designed equivalent of the three-pointed star of Mercedes in the BIRKENSTOCK buckle. In order to do this he wanted to execute each process as simply as possible.


Simplicity manifest

The buckle consists of the visible ‘superstructure’ of the buckle, plus a pin and a clip, which fastens the buckle to the leather of the sandal, clog or shoe. BIRKENSTOCK manufacturers up to 1.8 million units of these clips each working day. Each buckle is made from steel and covered in a layer of copper coating. They are then polished and finished in a deburring drum, a simple machine that emerged from Karl Birkenstock’s uniquely practical mind.

The BIRKENSTOCK spirit

BIRKENSTOCK buckles are manufactured from rolls of steel, which have been sliced like a cucumber laterally, before being rolled out and fed into powerful presses, which punch out the buckle into the iconic shape. A pass through the unique wooden deburring drum takes place, before the buckles are transferred to a belt-driven ‘vibrator’ into which small pyramid shaped ceramic stones are added. This vibration and scrub process works off any residual oil that remains after the press-and-deburr process is complete. The vibrator drum’s distinguishing feature is a red broom head, which slows down the finished parts to such an extent that the stones and buckles separate cleanly. This small, simple innovation perfectly encapsulates the spirit of Karl Birkenstock.

Craftsmanship at scale

After drying, galvanising and painting, the finished buckles are packaged. Every day, as many as 360,000 buckles make the journey to the packaging machine. Here they are filled into bags - ready for shipment to the final assembly line.

The BIRKENSTOCK spirit

BIRKENSTOCK buckles are manufactured from rolls of steel, which have been sliced like a cucumber laterally, before being rolled out and fed into powerful presses, which punch out the buckle into the iconic shape. A pass through the unique wooden deburring drum takes place, before the buckles are transferred to a belt-driven ‘vibrator’ into which small pyramid shaped ceramic stones are added. This vibration and scrub process works off any residual oil that remains after the press-and-deburr process is complete. The vibrator drum’s distinguishing feature is a red broom head, which slows down the finished parts to such an extent that the stones and buckles separate cleanly. This small, simple innovation perfectly encapsulates the spirit of Karl Birkenstock.

Craftsmanship at scale

After drying, galvanising and painting, the finished buckles are packaged. Every day, as many as 360,000 buckles make the journey to the packaging machine. Here they are filled into bags - ready for shipment to the final assembly line.

Leather

The beneficial properties of natural leather in shoe manufacturing are undeniable. It is the most durable, breathable, absorbent and pleasantly tactile material we know. BIRKENSTOCK processes only the highest quality leather, sourced, apart from in a small number of cases, from Europe. Before our leather meets the required criteria for production, it goes through numerous checks and analyses.

Leather
Leather
Leather

BIRKENSTOCK Arizona is a genuine classic

Proudly Made in Germany.

Final Assembly
Final assembly

Coated footbeds flow through to assembly on the transport machinery. Directly after the uppers are glued onto the footbed, and the glue is activated in a heating process, outsoles are affixed to the footbed on a special press pad. Before the finished sandals or clogs are packed, a final quality check is made. Swing tags and other labels are applied, then they are wrapped and placed in the distinctive BIRKENSTOCK boxes.

Coated footbeds flow through to assembly on the transport machinery. Directly after the uppers are glued onto the footbed, and the glue is activated in a heating process, outsoles are affixed to the footbed on a special press pad. Before the finished sandals or clogs are packed, a final quality check is made. Swing tags and other labels are applied, then they are wrapped and placed in the distinctive BIRKENSTOCK boxes.