The All-Season Sandal Representative: Why People Keep Choosing Birkenstock's "Boston"

Those who love fashion often have the desire to wear something unique.

However, there are items that some people feel perfectly fine with sharing. For instance, Birkenstock's "BIRKENSTOCK Boston" is such an example.

If you observe the stylish pedestrians in the city, you’ll find that this sandal stands out remarkably, all year round. Its styling varies greatly, ranging from American casual to outdoor, elegant, and high fashion.

How did Boston become a common sense item for fashionable individuals? Let’s explore the answer.

A Unique Footbed Designed Based on Anatomy

First, a bit on the brand's history.

Birkenstock's tradition of shoemaking dates back to 1774 when Johannes Birkenstock was recorded as a shoemaker in German public documents.

In the early 20th century, the head of the family, Conrad Birkenstock, was producing insoles for foot treatment.

At that time in Germany, metal insoles were typically used for foot treatment. This was because the prevailing concept was that "to cure the foot, first you must immobilize it."

However, Conrad had a different perspective.

He believed that insoles were not solely for the treatment of the foot, but rather played an extremely important role in the overall health of the feet.

Thus, he embarked on the first ever production of insoles that considered the shape of the foot.

The challenge was to make the insoles flexible enough to promote natural walking while also ensuring stability to support the foot.

After more than a decade of research, he devised a unique insole made from a mixture of cork and other materials in 1913. He named this flexible insole the "footbed."

Boston Developed with Inspiration from European Clogs

His ideal shoe vision was later carried on by Karl Birkenstock.

In 1963, the "Madrid" was launched, allowing for natural walking by incorporating the footbed.

Incidentally, the model names are inspired by cities around the world, making them easy for users to associate with different wearing situations.

Initially, Birkenstock gained attention in the medical field, but after the 1960s, it rapidly grew in the American market linked to the natural-oriented hippie culture.

In Japan, it became a trend in the street fashion of the 1990s, solidifying its status as a fashionable shoe.

The Boston was introduced in 1976.

Developed as a lightweight and flexible clog (a type of sandal resembling wooden shoes), this model features a cork footbed and a suede upper, serving to protect the foot from various falling objects.

The upper is made from a type of leather called velour, which is brushed to create a textured surface. It is durable, moisture-absorbent, and can be worn in any season.

Unlike typical clog-type sandals, it has a strap on the upper, allowing for size adjustments as desired.

A 4-Layer Footbed for Exceptional Comfort

Today, various types of Boston models are available, including styles in oiled leather, smooth leather, nubuck, and felt.

The footbed consists of a 4-layer structure.

The first layer that contacts the foot is made from soft suede, which is highly breathable, while the second layer beneath it is composed of dense jute that controls humidity.

The third layer is made from cork-latex, which is supple, durable, and conforms to the foot with wear, and the fourth layer consists of coarse jute that stabilizes the footbed.

The outsole is made from a lightweight, grip-enhanced EVA-blended rubber.

The shape is designed with a three-dimensional arch structure based on anatomy.

With deep heel cups, higher footbed edges, toe grips, and two arch supports (one vertically and one horizontally), it provides stable support for the foot, facilitating a natural walking experience as if walking on sand.

The comfortably enveloping fit truly represents the concept of "Foot Bed."

Riding the Wave of the Times: Spark the Second Boom

For a long time, the Boston has held strong popularity as a classic sandal, and in recent years, it has surged to the point where some models are hard to obtain.

Starting around 2018, trends such as the rise of the ugly sweater in the fashion industry have created a climate where "ugliness is cool," and it is said that this has once again put the Boston in the spotlight.

Additionally, the increased demand for home office shoes due to the pandemic has also contributed to its resurgence.

Attention is also concentrated on celebrities. The fact that celebrities like Kristen Stewart, Kendall Jenner, and Kanye West have worn them has become a hot topic on social media, fueling the boom further.

The Boston has also gained attention through collaborations with other brands, with collaborative models released with names like Manolo Blahnik and Rick Owens.

Reasons such as "the designer is an actual user" and "easy to style" play a part, but the establishment of a special project team, "1774," by Birkenstock in Paris in 2019 has also been a driving force in activating collaborations.

Recently, Boston models using EVA material for the upper, insole, and outsole have also been introduced.

EVA excels in elasticity and cushioning, and is also highly water-resistant, making it suitable for summer use.

However, being a popular model also brings its own challenges. As previously mentioned, some models have become difficult to obtain.

From 2012 to the present, Birkenstock has increased the annual production of Boston and Arizona from 1.2 billion pairs to 3 billion pairs, yet they still struggle to meet demand.

This is because it takes around 50 different handcrafting steps to create a single pair. Additionally, 95% of all models are produced in Germany (with the remaining 5% in Europe), and 100% of the footbeds are made in Germany. Due to this production background, mass production is challenging, and it is not easy to increase production numbers.

In the future, they plan to open new factories and aim to double production numbers within a few years.

Thanks to its simplicity, it pairs well with any outfit—worn bare-footed in spring and summer, and with socks in autumn and winter, allowing for year-round use.

Above all, the unique footbed offers a comfort that delights the feet. Therefore, when choosing shoes at the entrance, one can’t help but reach for... no, extend one’s feet toward them.

There are compelling reasons why fashionable individuals eagerly wear the Boston.