Commemorating the 60th anniversary of its flagship Zürich sandal, Birkenstock is releasing a limited-edition anniversary collection featuring four archive-inspired versions of the shoe.
For context, Karl Birkenstock introduced the silhouette in 1964 as his second sandal with a built-in footbed. The shoe was originally called the “Closed Model” due to its wide upper, exposed natural composition and double buckles, though it was later renamed the Zürich for its Brutalist build. At launch, the design was heralded for its functionality and foot health benefits, and it has since gone on to achieve universal appeal.
Today, the brand’s vintage-inspired anniversary capsule melds components of the original design with the label’s contemporary style codes across four colorways: “Dark Red,” “Dark Green,” “Light Blue” and “Light Green.” The silhouette features age-old buckles and soles that replicate those on the 1964 model, while premium leather and soft suede uppers give the silhouette a modern, luxe lift. The anatomically shaped cork-latex footbed, meanwhile, champions the brand’s centuries-spanning legacy in shoemaking.
This year, Birkenstock has already revealed three new versions of the Zürich sandal: the Zürich Tech, which prioritizes utilitarian design, and the Zürich Embossed and the Zürich Suede, both of which employ high-quality, soft leather.
Birkenstock’s Zürich anniversary collection will become available to shop on August 29 via the brand’s webstore. Take a look at the archive-inspired design in the gallery above.
