Hundreds of years after their founding, Birkenstocks have woven their way into CRLS, becoming a staple footwear product among students.
When asked by the Register Forum why students choose to wear Birkenstocks to school, Lexi Cramer ’26 reflected that, “People just want to be comfortable. I like how they have good foot support and are slip-on shoes.”
Similarly, Luke Bugula ’27 told the RF, “I think wearing Birkenstocks develops your connection to nature. It sort of replicates our ancestors strolling the earth barefoot.” Like Cramer, he felt that the comfortable footbed helped him feel more grounded.
Throughout the past year, Birkenstock has seen a spike in their sales, reporting their growth at nearly 17.5% for the 2025 fiscal year. This revenue increase is reflected by the opening of their seventh store in the US, just a short walk from CRLS on Newbury Street in Boston.
In a survey conducted by the RF of 50 students, it was found that about 65% of students reported seeing more Birkenstock wearers at CRLS since last year. Some even explained that wearing Birkenstocks allows for more camaraderie and recognition within the community. Accentuating this idea, Kaden Bartlett ’26 noted to the RF that when “people don’t know you personally” and they see you wearing Birkenstocks, “they know that you’re somewhat relatable.”
Andrew Morland ’29 noted that the growth felt like a “snowball effect; the more people that have them, the more people buy them.” He also voiced that Birkenstocks “are a bit expensive.”
The survey conducted revealed that 61% of students think similarly to Morland and feel that Birkenstocks are not worth the hefty price of $80–$130 for Arizonas, a form of sandals, and $150–$230 for Bostons, a form of clogs.
When asked if she felt the price was justified, Dorothea Holman ’27 told the RF that “[Birkenstocks] come across as less lazy,” admitting that the “material is a little more dressed up than Crocs, for example.”
Interestingly, the survey found that 80% of students think people buy the shoe for the name. When asked why he thought students might be more compelled to buy Birkenstocks, Marcus Johnson ’26 alluded to the emphasis that students place on owning real Birkenstocks. “I think that there’s a big emphasis on legitimacy—people don’t want to be made fun of for fake shoes.” Johnson highlighted that buying straight from the company does not necessitate comfort and quality, and people should buy shoes they genuinely enjoy wearing.
With the simple combination of strap, sole, and footbed, Birkenstocks are a strikingly simple shoe despite their prominence. But how did such a simple shoe make its way into the lives of high school students? The brand dates back to 1774, when Johannes Birkenstock of Germany was recognized as a master craftsman of shoemaking. Over a century later, his great-grandson Konrad used the original design of the shoe to open the first Birkenstock store in Frankfurt, Germany. This laid the foundation for a shoe that would become world-renowned and a prominent figure in the CRLS community.
This article also appears in our October 2025 print edition.
