By Alessia Italici-Ricbour (Y9)
The Introduction
Have you ever looked around and realised that everyone seems to be wearing the exact same shoes? These shoes are called Birkenstock. Most people found them ugly before the trend, and some still do now. Yet they’re becoming so big that people are buying them just to fit in! I know I did!
The origin
Birkenstock is a German brand founded all the way back in 1774 by Johann Adam Birkenstock. The shoes were originally made for medical, orthopedic footwear to help promote foot health. They were made to imitate walking on sand barefoot, and they were sold at health-food stores and even used to help heal wounded soldiers.
The different types :
While I was on my summer holiday in Italy, I noticed just how many people wear Birkenstocks while walking the streets. I also discovered the three models that I saw the most:
The Arizonas:
I noticed these were mostly worn by people in their late 20s to mid-30s, and both men and women wore them equally. They were most popular in brown and black.
The Bostons:
These are worn mostly by teenagers and people in their early 20s, usually in light beige or black suede. Both guys and girls wear them, but this style is almost always worn with socks. At school, basically everyone who owns Birkenstocks has this exact style, and I always notice everyone wearing them with socks.
The Gizehs:
These are worn a lot by 40 to 60-year-olds. They come in multiple colours, but I’ve only ever seen people wearing the classic brown ones. They are always worn without socks during the summer months.