200 YEARS OF COMFORT

The Birkenstock family of Bad Honnef, Germany, has been caring for feet since 1774. During the last decade of the
19th century, Konrad Birkenstock designed the first flexible arch support that mirrored the shape of the foot. In 1965,
Karl Birkestock took his family's Footbed concept a step further by introducing it as a sandal to the German market.
Today, Birkenstock offers comfortable quality footwear in an exciting array of styles and prices.

BIRKENSTOCK PRODUCTS

Classics. The original sandals that made Birkenstock famous. Our Classics line includes sandals, clogs and slip-on thongs
in a variety of styles and colours.

Papillio. This line features fun, playful designs with unique materials that coordinate with this year's fashion looks. Many
of these styles are offered on a seasonal basis only.

Footprints. A premium line of shoes and sandals for men and women. Crafted from the finest materials with uncompromising
workmanship, this collection offers unrivaled comfort and durability.

Birki's. Waterproof Birki's are the "go-anywhere" Birkenstock. This line of durable sport sandals features a slip-resistant sole
and a flared heel for extra stability. Birki Clogs are waterproof, and all-purpose, being made of durable, low-maintenance polyurethane, with all our original
comfort contours inside. Ideal for gardening.

Alpro. Shoes, sandals and clogs for people in the medical and food service industries - or anyone who spends
long periods of time standing or walking.

Birkenstock Socks. Soft, durable - and very comfortable. The only socks we've found good enough to bear the Birkenstock
name.

TRYING ON YOUR NEW BIRKENSTOCK SANDALS

Unbuckle ALL the straps and place your feet in the shoes. Make sure your heels are all the way back in the heelcups. The
contours of the footbed should correspond to your own arches and the toe bars should fit comfortably beneath your toes.

Before you stand up, look to see if there is about 0.5 cm of extra space for your toes and heels, and a couple of millimetres
on each side of your feet. You'll need this extra room because your feet will expand when you stand and walk.

Buckle the straps. Support comes from the footbed, not from tightly buckled straps. A securely fastened toe strap
should be enough to keep your foot firmly in the footbed. Other straps can be worn loosely. Initially, you might feel more
secure with the straps firmer, but over time, rear straps should be able to be worn looser.

COMFORT TIPS

Adjust to your new shoes gradually, as they may introduce new movements to the muscles and tendons in your feet and legs.

If your sandals have cork footbeds, they may feel rather rigid at first, but the footbeds will become more flexible with wear.
The footbeds will adjust slightly to your feet and the leather straps will become more supple.

Once your cork sandals have been 'broken in', the footbeds will have a slight upward curve where your toes bend when
you walk. You can get a head start by bending them up at the toe with your hands. This will soften the footbeds and
make it easier to walk in your new shoes.

Some sandals with straps across the toes, such as leather Arizonas, tend to have the leading edge of the leather on the front strap cut quite square. On occasion, this may irritate the skin on the top of the toes until such time as the footbed and leather strap have softened. In this case, we recommend that you take a small file and 'bevel' the underside of the front strap. Of course, if there any questions, give us a call, and we'll do our best to address your concerns.

If you have a pair of Birki's, be sure to wipe the polyurethane footbeds with a damp, soapy cloth before putting them on.
This will remove any slipperiness in the footbed.