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About Birkenstock
The Birkenstock Mission Birkenstock's purpose is to share their heartfelt belief that comfortable, healthy footwear contributes to happiness and well being.

Birkenstock produces over 400 different styles and colors of footwear to meet your lifestyle needs at work or play, with comfort designed into each pair.

The Birkenstock Family has been involved in the footwear industry for over 225 years. Konrad Birkenstock invented the original Birkenstock contoured footbed in 1897 in Germany. The simple but revolutionary concept was that the shape of the shoe should match the shape of the foot. Birkenstock footwear is designed to encourage and support healthy walking habits, revitalize the feet, and prevent walking fatigue.

Margot Fraser brought Birkenstock to America. In 1966, while traveling in Germany, Margot experienced Birkenstock comfort for the very first time. She was walking a great deal on painfully sore feet when someone suggested she give Birkenstock sandals a try. Her relief was immediate, and the longer she wore her Birkenstocks, the better she felt. And so began a new life for Margot Fraser and millions of Americans: she introduced Birkenstock footwear into this country.

 BIRKENSTOCK CARE TIPS
While no shoe lasts a lifetime, with proper care and periodic repair, Birkenstock sandals, clogs and shoes can give you years of comfort.

Apply Cork Sealant
Birkenstock footwear with exposed cork footbeds comes with a light coating of cork sealant on the exposed cork edge. This prevents the cork from drying out. When the cork no longer looks shiny, apply a thin coat of Birkenstock Cork Life® to protect the cork from the elements.

Avoid Extreme Heat
If your Birkenstock footwear has cork footbeds or EVA soles, both can be damaged by exposure to concentrated heat. Do not leave your shoes in direct sunlight or in closed cars on warm days. Keep Birkenstock footwear away from campfires, fireplaces, and indoor radiators. If your shoes become wet, allow them to air dry slowly, away from direct heat.

Care for Birki's® and Birki® Clogs
When the polyurethane sole gets dirty, just hose it off! If you wear them in saltwater, be sure to spray them off with fresh water right away to avoid salt corrosion.

Clean and Protect Uppers
Keep your Birkenstock footwear looking as good as they feel, by following these easy steps:

Nubuck/Suede:
Keep uppers looking fresh with our Birkenstock Nubuck & Suede Kit. Use Birkenstock Leather Lotion to remove stubborn spots. (The nubuck block is not recommended for embossed Nubuck as it may remove the embossed appearance.) Suede & Nubuck Renew product can be used to revitalize and enhance the color of your suede and nubuck footwear.

Leather:
Clean and condition smooth leather with Birkenstock Leather Cleaner. Use matching polish to renew scuffed leather.

Embossed Leather:
Use a leather balm to clean and polish the leather. To refresh the color, use a shoe cream.

Birko-FlorTM and BirkibucTM:
Wipe clean with a damp cloth. Try Birkenstock Leather Cleaner to remove stubborn stains.

Protect Uppers:
Use Birkenstock Leather Saver to protect your leather, suede, and nubuck from water, stains, and dirt. It also protects natural fabrics (linen, wool, etc.) and synthetic materials (Birko-Flor, Birkibuc, etc.).

Clean Your Footbed
Use Birkenstock Footbed Cleaner to prolong the life of your footwear. This special formula penetrates the footbed to remove odors, dirt, oils, and perspiration.

Please note: Although Birkenstock buys only the highest quality leather and test it for colorfastness, dyed leathers will sometimes shed their color. Please be very careful with delicate or light colored socks, especially when your Birkenstock footwear is new!

Renew or Replace Worn Soles
Prolong the life of your Birkenstock footwear with heel and toe taps. They should be applied when the EVA soles have been worn down to within about 1/4" of the cork footbed. When worn down more than this, replace the soles. If your soles tend to wear unevenly, repair them promptly to ensure your feet remain correctly balanced. Be sure to use only original Birkenstock repair materials.