Materials
Materials
The core material of every Birkenstock - cork.
Natural cork provides the foundation of our contoured footbed to achieve the perfect balance of firm support and shock absorption. The cork material in Birkenstock footbeds is renewable and sustainable.
From bark to Birkenstock - watch a quick video to learn more:
Leather & Suede
Birkenstock uses high quality premium leathers and suedes that are thick and extremely durable.
SUEDE
Suede is a type of fuzzy leather. The breathable outer surface has a velvety finish and perfectly combines a soft, comfortable feel with a robust design.
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OILED LEATHER
Our special form of oiled leather is obtained from tanneries. Depending on the desired effect, either an oily or waxy grease-containing surface coating is applied to the leather.
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NATURAL LEATHER
When producing shoes from untreated natural leather, we select particularly high-quality pieces of leather with a thickness of 2.8 to 3.2 millimeters.
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NUBUCK LEATHER
Nubuck leather is a top-grain leather that is naturally several millimeters thick. It has a softly brushed outer surface.
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Synthetics
Birkenstock uses a variety of synthetic upper materials including Birko-Flor® and Birkibuc, designed to mimic the look and feel of smooth leather and suede leather. Synthetic styles are easy to clean and to care for and are generally lower cost than leather styles.
BIRKO-FLOR®
Birko-Flor® is a durable and easy to clean synthetic material, made to sit comfortably against the skin; and used exclusively by BIRKENSTOCK.
BIRKO-FLOR® NUBUCK or BIRKIBUC
Birko-Flor® Nubuck is a synthetic material that manages to almost perfectly replicate the look and feel of authentic nubuck leather.
EVA
Ethyl vinyl acetate, or EVA, is a lightweight and durable synthetic material used to create the sole of our iconic footbeds, as well as our line of water-friendly EVA sandals.
