Birkenstock and Union LA’s Chris Gibbs Blend the Boston and Zurich Clogs Into New Hybrid Shoe
Stephen Garner
Senior Editor
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Birkenstock has joined forces with LA-based menswear store Union.
Created by Union LA owner and creative director Chris Gibbs, the new style combines features from his favorite perennial Birkenstock styles — the Boston and Zurich. Dubbed the “Bimshire,” the hybrid clog arrives just in time for the 60th anniversary of the Zurich silhouette.
Natural leather straps envelope the top layer of the style, weaving through Birkenstock’s classic buckles made with a specialized fabric-feel treatment. Below, a panel in tonal canvas is trimmed with French piping and finished with a round, classic suede toe. The anatomically shaped footbed is covered in nappa leather, tinted in Union’s signature orange.
Designed in desert tones of grey, taupe and sandy pink, the Bimshire is named after the island of Barbados, paying homage to Gibbs’ Bajan roots.
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“It’s a dream come true to be working with Birkenstock; a brand that I have been wearing damn near since before I hit puberty,” Gibbs said in a statement. “For a long time I was even teased for wearing ‘chancletas‘, so it’s also super refreshing to see our community evolve.”
The Birkenstock x Union collaboration will pre-launch on Oct. 29 at Union retail stores and online at store.unionlosangeles.com. The global launch will follow on Nov. 7 at 1774.com, select Birkenstock locations and select retailers worldwide.
The new collection is part of Birkenstock’s 1774 division, which is dedicated to special projects and collaborations. Past collaborators for Birkenstock 1774 include Rick Owens, Filson, Stüssy, Concepts, Tekla and Fear of God.
This launch is the latest product release in Birkenstock’s post-IPO growth model. In September, Birkenstock relaunched its “Give a Damn” collection with Lingua Franca. This was the second release of the collection after nearly four years. Ten percent of proceeds from each pair sold was donated directly to the Surfrider Foundation.
In August, Birkenstock debuted the new Birki Flow water-resistant clog that takes inspiration from the German footwear brand’s original vented clog from 1995. According to Birkenstock, the lifestyle-inspired iteration of its professional clog is engineered for post-sport recovery, rest days and any occasion in between.
In May, the footwear brand released the Birki Air 2.0, a ventilated clog remastered from the brand’s original Birki Air from the mid-90s. The updated style features a new technical design featuring orthopedic functions created specifically for those working in industries including healthcare, hospitality and more.
The focus on product comes as Birkenstock continues to see revenues increase since becoming a public company last year. In August, the 250-year-old German footwear company reported revenue increased 19 percent in the third quarter to 565 million euros, up from 473 million at the same time last year.
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