Across two and a half centuries, Birkenstock has established a reputation for its fusion of comfort and style, becoming something of a warm-weather footwear icon across the globe. This summer, the German brand announces a significant milestone for three iconic designs with the introduction of its new limited-edition anniversary capsule collection.
Celebrating the 60th, 50th, and 40th anniversaries of the Madrid, Arizona, and Gizeh respectively, each new limited edition is linked by the centrepiece of Birkenstock’s design philosophy — its instantly-recognisable footbed. The naturally evolving anatomical shape is the result of orthopaedic experience passed down through generations — set in stone by Karl Birkenstock’s mission to make a natural gait possible for everyone around the world. The Birkenstock footbed is inspired by a natural footprint in the sand and therefore simulates walking on a soft, yielding surface that adapts to a wearer’s feet over time. These days, the Madrid, Arizona and Gizeh stand for a clear product philosophy, an unabated spirit of innovation, and the global footwear brand’s uncompromising function, design, and quality standards:
Madrid – A Timeless Icon
A creation of Karl Birkenstock, Madrid’s design was inspired by his father Carl’s work on the foot bed. Once known as ‘a vexing gymnastics sandal’, Madrid has stood the test of time—six decades and counting— with its minimal unisex style and quality craftsmanship. Made from oiled leather, nubuck leather, Birko-Flor, and microfiber, the minimal yet edgy sandal features one strap with an adjustable metal pin buckle.
Style Tip: Pair a classic cognac leather set of Madrids with skinny jeans, solid tees and a matching wristwatch for a laidback, easy-going everyday fit.
Arizona – Everybody’s Favourite
Having debuted ahead of the 200th heritage anniversary of the Birkenstock family, the Arizona was first sold exclusively in health food stores. Soon, it became a symbol of 1970s counterculture in the USA, finding fans among the likes of tech icon Steve Jobs. The Arizona served as Birkenstock’s ticket to the world of fashion—the sandal’s iconic double-strap buckles made their first runway appearance in New York in 1993.
Style Tip: Combine a brighter pair of Arizonas with khakis, loose linen shirts and bright-frame sunglasses for an outdoorsy, eye-grabbing variant on daytime casuals.
Gizeh – A Rendezvous in the World of Fashion
In 1983, Karl Birkenstock developed the Gizeh— the first Birkenstock thong sandal with an ergonomically shaped toe bar, while staying true to his bold aesthetic. After over three years of development, Birkenstock eventually launched the Gizeh in five colours, debuting a silver and gold finish for the first time in the company’s history.
Style Tip: The Gizeh is a perfect complement to beach shorts and printed shirts, as a classy upgrade to the old-school flip-flop look. Add some matching jewellery via minimal bracelets or a necklace to bring this effortless sundowner ensemble together.
The limited-edition collection comes in eight colours (black, emerald, white, light brown, dark red, grey, beige, and pink) joining the dozens of existing Birkenstock designs that range from classic oiled leathers to floral prints and even neon hues. All the collection models are numbered and are available as a set with a pair of vintage-look socks, packaged in a specially designed box inspired by the Birkenstock archive. The anniversary collection is strictly limited according to each model’s year of birth. Globally, the Madrid will be available in an edition of 1,963 pairs, there will be 1,973 of the Arizona models and the Gizeh batch will be capped at 1,983 pairs.
The anniversary collection will be available exclusively at Birkenstock.in from May 11th, 2023 and Birkenstock at DLF Promenade, New Delhi.
Image Credits: Birkenstock
