It may be hard to believe but Birkenstocks were once seriously unfashionable, the go-to footwear of hippies willing to sacrifice style for arch support. Now those early adopters of frumpy sandal chic stand to be vindicated as the German shoemaker tries to bank its now mainstream appeal with a multibillion-pound listing.
But will this week’s flotation in New York – which if there is strong demand for its shares could value the 250-year-old orthopaedic shoe brand at almost £8bn – be a turning point for a reliable make that has been loved by those in the know for decades?
