Fashion designer Rick Owens has updated the Birkenstock silhouette to feature a felt, a pony hair and a leather iteration.
For many, the durability and comfort provided by Birkenstock's make the shoes a footwear staple. However, the shoe isn't typically synonymous with high-fashion, which is why this collaboration serves as an interesting move from the sandal brand.
Owens has updated the Arizona, Madrid and Boston shoe to feature a unique material, while boasting the designer's iconic monochromatic color palette. The newly released shoes serve as high-fashion alternatives to the brand's traditional offerings, presenting the wearer with something comfortable enough for the woods but sleek enough for the city.
A pop-up shipping container will be retailing the Birkenstocks in-front of Owens' existing Los Angeles store.
High-Fashion Sandal Collaborations
Rick Owens Updated the Birkenstock Silhouette Using Pony Hair
Trend Themes
1. Luxury Sandals - Opportunity for high-fashion collaborations with traditional sandal brands to elevate the look and feel for consumers.
2. Material Innovation - Opportunity for designers to experiment with unique materials to create one-of-a-kind footwear designs that capture consumer attention.
3. Pop-up Retail Spaces - Opportunity for brands to create unique, temporary retail spaces that can generate excitement and increase foot traffic to existing brick-and-mortar stores.
Industry Implications
1. Fashion - Luxury fashion brands and traditional sandal companies can collaborate to bring high-fashion options to consumers seeking comfort and durability in their footwear.
2. Footwear - Footwear companies can experiment with new materials and design styles to create unique and desirable products for consumers.
3. Retail - Pop-up retail spaces can be used as a way for brands to create excitement and increase foot traffic to existing brick-and-mortar stores.