Stocking up on Birkenstocks

By C. Nicole

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Spring has begun and summer is on the horizon—as well as an old fashion trend in footware.

The popular Birkenstock sandals have made a big comeback and they are the fashionable shoes for the summer. Many people who wore Birkenstocks years ago are glad to see they are trendy again.

 “When I was in college, we were all crazy about Birkenstocks. I was a real wild child then you might say.” said April Taylor,32, an advertising associate for WREG News Channel 3 in Memphis. “With Nirvana, Blues-Travelers, and Red Hot Chili Peppers out-- in short it was just a real good era, and Birkenstocks really fit in to my everyday crazy style. I’m glad they are reappearing.”

Yes, it is wonderfully true that Birkenstocks are the hottest   “ugly- pretty” shoe back on the market. Being featured in the latest Vogue spring 2015 issue and being the hot new item on the runway has really boosted the stocks in Birkenstocks.

In the 1990s the  “hippie-style”shoes were all the rage complementing with the flannel shirts, jean cut-offs and “tree- hugging.”

Now in 2015 the sandals can be seen in blogs, NY Fashion Week, Instagram,and fashionable streetwalkers.

“I love my Birkenstock sandals,” said Sarah Robinson,Wolchase Galleria, forever 21 employee; “they make me feel as if I should’ve been at Woodstock.  I hated when they went into seclusion about four years ago, with the horrid closed toed Birkenstocks. Now I can wear them proudly without feeling incompetent.”

The brand’s Birkenstock go back to 1770, when Johann Adam Birkenstock first hawked his insoles in Germany. Now, this was when the name “Birkenstock “began and when Adam Birkenstock actually started designing his own shoes.

When the 1960s begin, the company created the Birkenstock shoes. The style of the shoe has changed many times through the years to fit the various style trends. In 2015, The Arizona Classic Birkenstocks are the sandal that is ravaging the stock market. The easy- going touch to the shoe has really brought the “cool” side out of everyone.

 

During the 40- year-old business the sales have always fluctuated. Between the 1990s and present they have had a love/hate with the market.  While Birkenstocks have been around since the 1960s it has sold more shoes, According to the New York Times, between  92’-94’.

The company promoted the shoe by coming up with different styles for the ongoing style changes. Sounds familiar?

“A year ago, in a lot of stores, Birkenstocks were being overlooked and collecting dust, like a nice annuity that everybody knew, now we are in the windows,” said Distributors early this year.

 

With the smart retail tactic you have now seen the items in all stores. Stores like Old Navy, Gordman’s, Rue 21, even Walmart have started selling the faux versions of the brand.

“I don’t much care for the sandals, maybe because I don’t think I can pull them off, but they are everywhere, and most of my sorority sisters wear them, I think I will buy them.” said Kelsey Westbrook, 20, Middle Tennessee State University student

 

“Sales of Birkenstocks in the U.S. have 30 percent in the past year, and the brand is expected to double from 2015 to 2016, according to Distributors. “  said local store-owner, Denise Haybrich.

“They are making a comeback? What? I had no idea. I’m more of Converse and Vans man. I wear black all year long and never get out of the gothic stage of my life,” said Jason Jones, local Memphis band member, if I ever change styles I might consider them, but I highly doubt.