Birkenstock Shoes

Birkenstock Shoes 2001-02: Birkenstock hired  me to contribute to a new collection of shoes called The Architect Series. The goal was to modernize Birkenstock’s Footprints brand.  Birkenstock had also hired designer Yves Behar & team, who made the sole unit look pretty, while I designed a handful of uppers. The collection got lots of initial press but faded to obscurity quickly. Unfortunately, Behar’s team ignored a few fundamental things which could have made the shoes desirable - like last shape & traction. Birkenstock then asked me to design a modern classic. The result was the Corvalis (pictured above).  It’s a simple, classic product & arguably anti-fashion, but it’s still selling strong & I think it has has aged pretty gracefully.