# High-Fashion Sandal Collaborations Rick Owens Updated the Birkenstock Silhouette Using Pony Hair By Ell Smith | Published 2018-01-11 | Fashion Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/birkenstock-silhouette References: [dezeen](https://www.dezeen.com/2018/01/09/rick-owens-unveils-birkenstock-collaboration-los-angeles-store-shoes-footwear-fashion/) & [rickowens.eu](https://www.rickowens.eu/en/CA) Fashion designer Rick [Owens](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/owens-fleece) has updated the [Birkenstock](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/1774-line) 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](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/off-the-grid-pack) in-front of Owens' existing Los Angeles store. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.7/10 - Popularity: 89% | Activity: 75% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Fashion](https://www.trendhunter.com/fashion) > [Shoes](https://www.trendhunter.com/shoes) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Luxury Sandals:** Opportunity for high-fashion collaborations with traditional sandal brands to elevate the look and feel for consumers. - **Material Innovation:** Opportunity for designers to experiment with unique materials to create one-of-a-kind footwear designs that capture consumer attention. - **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. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Fashion:** Luxury fashion brands and traditional sandal companies can collaborate to bring high-fashion options to consumers seeking comfort and durability in their footwear. - **Footwear:** Footwear companies can experiment with new materials and design styles to create unique and desirable products for consumers. - **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. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Luxurious Ergonomic Footwear](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/1774-line.md) - [Glossy Oversized Buckle Sandals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/birkenstock-arizona-big-buckle.md) - [Bridal Sandal Collections](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/birkenstock-danielle-frankel.md) - [Adventurous Outdoor Sandal Collections](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/outdoor-sandal-collection.md) - [Heritage-Honoring Collaborative Shoes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/filson-collection.md) - [Textured Buckle Sandals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/off-the-grid-pack.md) - [Cozy Collaborative Sandal Series](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/stssy-and-birkenstock.md) - [Collaborative Modern Clogs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bimshire.md) - [Handstitched Denim Sandals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/art-of-boro.md)