Birkenstock

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Birkenstock is a German brand of sandals and other shoes, famous for their contoured "footbeds," which are supposed to match the shape of their wearers' feet. Birkenstock's "classic" model, the highly prolific "Boston" clog, is worn just as commonly barefoot as with socks, the choice generally based on outside temperature.

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 this "founder's" grandson really started the current company. In 1897, Konrad Birkenstock designed the first shoe with a contoured insole.

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. Since that time, Birkenstock Footprint Sandals, Inc. has been the exclusive importer and distributor of Birkenstock products in the United States.

Since the 1980s, a high percentage of medical professionals (e.g. dentists, nurses) in Germany are wearing Birkenstock shoes or sandals during their service. Furthermore, these sandals are often used as domestic slippers. In the United States, they are associated with American liberalism. [link] During the 2004 U.S. presidential primary, conservatives derided Howard Dean supporters as "Birkenstock liberals." [link]

In Germany and Austria they are associated with housewives or the environmental movement.

In the recent years Birkenstocks 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.

Birkenstock also markets other brands of footware featuring the original contoured footbed; these brands include Betula, Tatami, Papillio, Birki's and Footprints.

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