Birkenstock is suing several competitors for allegedly copying four of its most recognisable styles: the Arizona and Madrid sandals, the Gizeh flip-flop, and the Boston clog – a closed-toe design beloved by the likes of Kaia Gerber, Jason Momoa and Gigi Hadid, with sales in 2024 more than doubling the company’s average.
Defending its litigious stance, the German brand, which has been crafting sandals in the Linz am Rhein region since the 18th century, claims its products transcend everyday footwear and should instead be considered pieces of “applied art” – wearable artefacts of historic craftsmanship deserving protection from imitators such as Tchibo, another German company, which is named in the lawsuit.
