Birkenstock is a German brand of footwear, deeply rooted in its tradition and legacy. The brand traces its roots all the way back to 1774, when Johann Birkenstock, a German cobbler, first started making these shoes. The Birkenstock family has been shoemakers for over 225 years, and it was Johann Birkenstock's grandson, Konrad Birkenstock, who started the current company in 1897, when he designed the first shoe with a contoured insole. When Margot Fraser "discovered" Birkenstock sandals while on a holiday in Germany, she so liked the shoes that she decided to import Birkenstock footwear from Germany in small amounts. In 1966, the Birkenstock Footprint Sandals, Inc. was formed (as she was particularly enthusiastic about Birkenstock sandals), as business growth was rapid and the demand for Birkenstock footwear was amazingly high. Birkenstock gained fame for their contoured cork and rubber footbeds, which conform to the shape of the wearers' feet, and provide the ultimate in walking comfort. In 2005, Birkenstock Footprint Sandals, Inc. was renamed to Birkenstock Distribution USA, Inc., and remains the only and exclusive distributor of Birkenstock brand-name products in the USA.

Birkenstock has been perfecting their products for more than two centuries, and this experience and expertise is amazingly depicted in the quality of Birkenstock shoes and sandals. The Birkenstock insole is contoured and is designed for the ultimate in feet comfort. The reason why Birkenstock sells is because these pieces of footwear are excellent for daily use and immensely practical. Birkenstock clogs and sandals are uber comforting for the feet, and are well-suited for people who have "always-on-the-feet" jobs. Their comfort factor is one of the reasons why the medical fraternity is a big buyer of Birkenstock shoes, especially Birkenstock nursing shoes. The current Birkenstock product line-up includes the two-strap Birkenstock Arizona sandal, and the Birkenstock Boston clog.