Genuine natural leather

Genuine natural leather has a unique surface structure, which varies in its colour. No artificial dyes are used to cover up these differences but leave them the way nature intended. This way the leather retains its pores and its ability to breathe.

Smooth leather

The smooth leather used for Birkenstock® uppers is thick though very supple. Smooth leather feels very fine-scarred and even and has a shiny surface. Due to its high elasticity and tensile strength, this material is steadily guaranteed against external influences and so a long life span. Furthermore, smooth leather is carefree and air-permeable.

Suede leather

The suede leather is also extremely strong and supple and is, as all leathers used by Birkenstock®, dyed rather than sprayed, allowing maximum breathability. The natural differences in the surface texture is a characteristic that proves that only genuine leather is used.

Nubuck leather

Nubuck leather is a full grain leather whose natural characteristics are enhanced by buffing the top layer. This creates the velvety finish unique to nubuck leather.

Embossed leather

The bark-life surface structure gives the Birkenstock® embossed leather a particularly expressive character.

Birko-Flor®

Birko-Flor® is a material developed by Birkenstock® as an alternative to leather. Birko-Flor® is made of soft acrylic and polyamide felt fibres with a durable smooth leather like finish. Birko-Flor® is skin-friendly, tear-proof and easy-care material. The upper layer of this material has a leather like structure and soft fleece is built into the lower layer.

Birko-Flor®-Nubuck

Thanks to a special finishing process, this material has a leather like surface texture, resembling nubuck and has the same features as Birko-Flor®.

Birko-felt

Birko-felt is made of a wool rayon staple and synthetic fibre felt. This mixture is practically tear-proof,
but still air-permeable and skin-friendly.

Micro-fibre

The micro-fibre used by Birkenstock® is a high quality material with a nubuck-like look. Micro-fibre is extremely durable and lightweight; it is easy to clean and retains its colour. It is a very breathable material, which ensures a skin-friendly environment for the foot. Micro-fibre is used both for uppers and as a footbed liner.

Vegetable tanned leather

Vegetable tanned leather is tanned using bark mulch, which creates the unique glimmer of the uppers both in colour and brilliance. The process uses plant extracts that create a variety of colour tones, as well as retaining its pores and breathability.

Virgin wool

The high quality requirements are particularly applied for wool, as with all uppers used by Birkenstock®. Fleece wool proves itself in all weather conditions and protects, thanks to its natural characteristics against various environmental influences. When it is cold, fleece wool will keep your feet warm and when it is warm, fleece wool works pleasantly chilly.