Once deemed ugly or uncool among the fashion-conscious crowd, Birkenstocks now grace Paris Fashion Week runways and are the subject of some high-profile collaborations.

But why, all of a sudden, are Birkenstocks considered to be cool? How did they become what they are today, which is a sandal your grandparents wear while gardening while simultaneously also being worn by some of the most stylish people around? 

What better way to start than to go way back, to 1774, which is where it all started for the German sandal manufacturer. I think that alone is pretty cool already. That this brand has been around for almost 250 years, and is not only STILL active, but actually considered cool.

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