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Are Birkenstocks worth it?
You’ve all heard of them; you may even own a pair or two already; but the main question everyone focuses on; “Are Birkenstocks worth it?”
Originating in 1774, the iconic German shoe manufacturer was brought to the US in 1966, Birkenstock sandals became heavily associated with hippies and ‘Flower Children’ in the 1970’s. Introduced to high fashion in the early 90’s by supermodels and actors; the demand for the iconic core sandal has increased significantly.
Con: Sizing
We understand the sizing of Birkenstocks can be daunting for a new customer, our staff have extensive knowledge and years’ experience in fitting footwear to ensure for the best fit. On our website and social media, you will find Birkenstock Shopping Guides & Size guides for extra help, with a trouble-free return experience if the wrong size was purchased. Note, the Birkenstocks are available in a regular and narrow width, the regular has an outlined foot illustration on the innersole whereas the narrow fit has a filled foot illustration.
Pro: They are unbelievably comfortable!
Birkenstock use premium quality cork to provide orthopaedic contours of the feet, for maximum comfort. Cork is a natural, lightweight and shock absorbent material that derives from the cork oak trees, which is completely renewable. Firstly, the cork footbed can be quite tough at first; wearing them around the house is a great and easy to way to allow the cork to mould and shape with every step.
For those who find the initial ‘wearing in’ stage of Birkenstocks, here at Grundy’s Shoes we offer various styles with a Soft Footbed. The Soft Footbed is padded with an anatomically pre-formed foam insert, this is made up of tiny air bubbles that contribute to a softer and unique wearing experience.
Pro: They are long lasting!
The natural materials of Birkenstocks allow a hot and cold insulating effect to promote a healthy foot climate for overall foot health and long-lasting footwear. These materials allow for all day wear as the natural cork footbed will not deteriorate with age; for older pairs of Birkenstocks that need some TLC, you are able to get them resoled at Birkenstock approved repairers.
Con: Pricing $
Birkenstocks pricing varies due to the materials used, from EVA rubber, synthetic leather, Vegan, Suede, Oiled and Smooth leathers; the pricing of Birkenstocks can vary from $91, all the way to $320. For the following reasons, we can assure you they are popular and priced for the right reasons!
Pro: Fashionable & Comfortable for work & home!
Here, at Grundy’s Shoes we stock a range of Birkenstocks in both core and seasonal collections, including work approved footwear for various industries such as healthcare, hospitality, and fashion. We stock core styles that are available to shop all year round, with the option to shop our limited-edition seasonal styles that are often brighter colours and unique designs for Birkenstock lovers!
Ensuring an optimum level of comfort and support, healthcare workers often go for Boston, London & Linz as they are our closed toe styles and allow for protection in a medical environment and meet the requirements of most healthcare dress codes. Our Super Birki & Profi Birki styles are made from Polyurethane which allows for a waterproof upper and a non-abrasive and slip resistant outsole, perfect for Professional use.
For those wearing their Birkenstocks around the house and running errands, we stock various colours and materials to suit your personal style. The Zermatt, Amsterdam (restock coming soon!) and Shearling Suede ranges are perfect for around the house; allowing your feet to be comfortable, supported whilst the soft uppers are gentle and breathable on the skin. The classic Arizona ‘two strap’ sandal style, is often paired with denim for a minimalist and timeless look for both men and women.
Please note: Stock and styles vary between each Grundy’s Shoe stores. There has been a worldwide shortage of Birkenstocks since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have Birkenstock deliveries at all times of the year. Sign up to our Newsletter and keep an eye out on our social media for all restock updates.
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How do I look after my Arche items?
Keeping your Arche shoes beautiful!
The manufacture of Arche creations in our workshops involves around one hundred skilled actions per shoe. Only two or three actions are necessary to keep them beautiful.
NUBUCKS
Arche nubucks have been carefully selected from our European suppliers and are made from calf leather; the grain has been polished to achieve their soft feel and typical velvet finish.
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If some of our nubucks have received waterproof treatment, we recommend that for most of them, you apply a water-proofing treatment yourself to maintain the quality of their finish. To do this, we recommend the regular application of a specific waterproofing spray.
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To maintain their finish and remove dust, simply clean them gently with a soft brush (nylon bristles) or a more abrasive suede brush (use with care).
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To deal with any superficial stains, it is best to gently clean with soapy water - preferably Marseilles soap - taking care to rinse the area you have cleaned with clean water. Once dry (in open-air and away from a source of heat), finish the cleaning process by brushing the nubuck, it will thus recover its distinctive finish.
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We recommend the use of fine china clay for oily stains.
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Be careful to never use shoe-wax on nubucks, this will damage their velvet finish.
SMOOTH LEATHERS
The smooth leathers are made from skins produced by the finest European suppliers; they are all full-grain calfskin, lambskin, bull calf-skin and deer-skin leather, treated to achieve the correct grain effect.
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We recommend the regular application of a suitable water-proofing treatment to protect its refined finish. We recommend the use of leather-care cream or lotion products to maintain their typical softness and colour.
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Use a soft cloth or brush to remove dust.
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For superficial stains, apply soapy water - preferably Marseilles soap - or a suitable leather shampoo to the affected area and then rinse with clean water. After leaving to dry in a ventilated area away from any source of heat, you should apply a specific leather nourishing cream and then polish with a woollen cloth or a reversed sheepskin glove.
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Please note, the choice of a high-quality shoe-wax is essential to avoid damaging the leather's softness and colour.
PATENT LEATHERS
Our patent leathers are rigorously selected for their softness, the full-grain calf-skin leathers are treated with a smooth varnish.
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The use of a face-cleansing cream is appropriate to maintain their shine.
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Alcohol-free skin-cleansing wipes can be used to remove dust and clean patent leather.
DESIGNER LEATHERS
Our designer leathers, whether with a printed finish or applied designs, are made from European origin full-grain calf-skin leather.
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Regular use of a leather water-proofing product is suitable to maintain their shine. Apply a specific leather nourishing cream to maintain resistance, softness and the brilliance of their colours; however, be sure to try the product first on a hidden part of the shoe to ensure that it doesn't smear the leather.
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Use a soft cloth or brush to remove dust from these designer leathers.
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Apply soapy water - preferably Marseilles soap - or a suitable leather shampoo to the affected area and then rinse with clean water to remove superficial stains. After leaving to dry in a ventilated area away from any source of heat, you should apply a specific leather nourishing cream and then polish with a woollen cloth or a reversed sheepskin glove.
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Please note, shoe-wax may alter the printed finishes and should not be used at all.
SOLES
Our creations generally have soles made from a soft material: Lactae Hevea®, Formula Natural®, latex or rubber.
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The organic nature of soles made from pure hevea milk may sometimes lead to the apparition of white marks. Use a lint-free cloth with a bit of lemon juice or colourless vinegar to make these go away.
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Use soapy water as indicated to clean all soles.
Please note, chemical solvents will deteriorate the material of the soles: we strongly suggest that you do not use them.
What do I do if the colour fades?
The colours used by Arche each season are applied in dye baths during the tanning process resulting in a beautiful colour impregnated throughout the leather keeping their natural beauty. The intense colours of our creations come from the much sought-after subtle feel of our leathers are proof of their nature and authenticity.
Surface treatments are avoided to maintain the beautiful nature of these unique skins. Their colour intensity and pliable nature is therefore ideal, especially with our nubucks with their unique finish.
This degree of quality may sometimes lead to a slight transfer to other items of clothing or the skin which may be amplified by the acidity of the skin or residual dust on the surface after the polishing of the grain of the nubuck skins. This is a simple transfer and is not serious. A little soap and water is usually enough to remove any such marks on the skin. Avoid prolonged contact with water; humidity may increase any such transfer of the colours to clothing. Prolonged exposure to light-sources may fade the colour of the leather over time.
How durable is Arche footwear?
Our creations are developed to meet the highest quality standards, specifically those concerning the selection of raw materials.
All of our leathers are sourced from European suppliers, each of which respect all applicable ethical standards and respect the environment in the production of their premium leathers.
To ensure the typically brilliant colours which make up our Arche DNA our carefully selected suppliers use traditional tanning processes which are covered by the European REACH standards.
All of our creations are developed in our French creation studio which has been based in the Val de Loire region since 1968. The largest part of our creations are manufactured at the same site near to the city of Tours, a very small part of our collections are produced in other European workshops which we carefully supervise ourselves.
Every one of our creations is subjected to a final quality control process in our Chateau- Renault workshops before arriving in your hands.
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How To Take Care Of Your Birkenstocks
Here are some tips on how to care of your Birkenstocks, to ensure you get the most wear out of them!