Birkenstock Madrid sandal

The history of German shoe brand Birkenstock can be traced back to 1774. For over 200 years the company has been producing practical, comfortable shoes in timeless designs. The Madrid, one of Birkenstock’s first athletic shapes, is one of the most loved styles. While it was the two-strap Arizona sandal that first put Birkenstock firmly back on the fashion map (with a little help from Celine), this season the Madrid has made the world’s hottest products list.

Sleeker than the Arizona, the Madrid boasts a slim, single strap and sits atop the brand’s iconic contoured cork footbed for a custom fit. Adapting to suit all tastes, the Madrid now comes available in croc-effect leather and bold finishes in a huge range of colors from brown and black to bubblegum-pink, gold and neon hues.

Since the brand first introduced its cork-footed footwear in the US in 1963, Birkenstock has been loved by customers and podiatrists all over the globe as a trusted, heritage brand. The brand’s moment in the fashion spotlight came in 2013, when ‘normcore’ took hold of the fashion masses and millennials, fed up with over-styled fashion sensibilities, went back to basics. Picked up by influencers such as Chloë Sevigny and Kate Moss and elevated to the catwalk by Celine, Marni, Isabel Marant and Rick Owens, Birkenstock had come a long way from its small-town beginnings. The original ‘ugly shoe’ long before ‘dad sneakers’, Birkenstocks are back.

Reportedly selling 25 million shoes in 2017, the privately held German company produces 1,700 styles and its shoes are sold in 90 countries. Plans to open a global flagship store in New York City’s SoHo neighbourhood and a recent collaboration with Opening Ceremony this summer have further cemented Birkenstocks place in the fashion world.

Celebrity fans of the Madrid include Jenna Dewan Tatum, The Olsens and Gwyneth Paltrow. You can find the Madrid at many online retailers, including ASOS, Amazon and Selfridges.