Shoes from FOOTPRINTS® embody the 225-year history of BIRKENSTOCK, a company rich in tradition, as well as the newest technological developments.
Our society subjects our feet to strain constantly. Walking and standing on cement and asphalt has become a hard fact of our everyday life. It feels natural in contrast to walk on soft grass or sand. The Birkenstock footbed was developed in order to provide you with this luxury on a everyday basis: it is anatomically shaped and based on the natural footprint people make. Shoes from FOOTPRINTS® with the original Birkenstock footbed put your feet back on natural turf.
A luxury which you should treat your feet to every day!
In 1989 a worldwide boom in the sale of Birkenstock sandals highlighted a demand for closed shoes with an original Birkenstock footbed. 
By 1990 the first prototypes appeared with the aim of ‘offering light comfortable shoes with changeable a footbed made of natural products’. The footbed is intended to resemble the natural human footstep through its anatomical shape.
1991: Footprints first test shoes pass the highest quality requirements.
In 1992 Footprints was presented at the biggest American trade fair in Las Vegas. The first big success emerges and production capacity reaches 200,000 pairs for one year!
The following year Birkenstock excludes CFC’s from its production and raw and auxiliary materials are used to ensure 100% CFC-free manufacturing: the innovative foamed material offers excellent padding between feet and the ground, low weight, good insulation against cold and heat, high flexibility and is particularly long-lasting.
1994 sees the development of the popular style ‘Pasadena’ which is sold in over 40 countries. Also a children's shoe is made for the first time, featuring the advantage of a second footbed in the next biggest size, and this later receives international recognition.
By 1995 the strong growing demand forces expansion in production to other European countries. Further production plants are opened in Portugal and Italy in addition to those in Germany, without any loss in quality. The FOOTPRINTS®-Schuh GmbH is established, with its headquarters in Bad Honnef. The name FOOTPRINTS® by Birkenstock is copyrighted worldwide. In the future the name FOOTPRINTS® is to be used as an internationally understood term in advertising and on the carton, so that this special product group is clearly differentiated from the classic Birkenstock range of products. For the future FOOTPRINTS® continues to rely on comfort, design and an extremely high quality workmanship.
Apart from the many comfort considerations which make the well-conceived shoe in its natural form so impressive, there is also an unexpected fashion aspect. The "Pasadena" model becomes a cult object in Japan. Thanks to its fashionable colors, the Pasadena becomes a best-seller and production can not keep up with demand, because only highly-specialized shoe specialists can carry out the individual working steps in the quality required for FOOTPRINTS®. Further expansions of production for the coming years are begun. The gratefulness of the customers and the success spurns us on.
The catalogue circulation increases to well over 1 million. An increasing number of people wear FOOTPRINTS® in almost all of Europe, as well as in the United States, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, Canada, Singapore and in the Philippines, and the shoes become more and more popular because of their comfort and high quality.
The range of products is expanded in 1999 to include further marker segments. Apart from the ladies', men's and children's shoes, leisure and trekking shoes are also available. The FOOTPRINTS®-Schuh GmbH becomes official partner of "Schutzgemeinschaft Deutscher Wald" (German Forest Protection Association). The conservation and protection of nature is to become a company objective. Thanks to the dynamism and team spirit of the employees and the customers, together with their quality awareness and a market-conscious attitude and behavior, we experience another record year.
By 2000 a new catalogue appears with over 170 different article numbers. FOOTPRINTS® has made its mark as a fashionable shoe for the health-conscious consumer. We receive many letters of thanks from all over the world.
Two new collections are presented in 2002 which have met with accolades from customers: the elegant Metropolitan ladies' collection with six exclusive models in different attractive colors and the new boot collection, from sporting to nostalgic, right for every occasion.
2003: In a national survey by the German shoe specialized trade, FOOTPRINTS® was evaluated as "the climber of the year 2003"! Among further criteria, form fit, product quality, customer service and delivering punctuality were significant for the evaluation.
2004: FOOTPRINTS® and Til Schweiger Germany's most famous actor develop a new collection which is called "Agile" and labeled with "FOOTPRINTS® by Til Schweiger". The first presentation of the 30 new items in a sporty look, including sneakers and clogs, at the GDS show in March strikes directly a chord by the customers worldwide.
Independence, modernity and international character are reflected FOOTPRINTS® 2005 style.
In 2006 the graphic style of the previous catalogue will be taken up and still extended. FOOTPRINTS® increased enormously its position on the Japanese market and extends the delivery of market-oriented special items.
Since January FOOTPRINTS® works with a new distributor in New York, as well as a logistic company in Kentucky, for the American market and increase its market situation. FOOTPRINTS® continues to grow and provide health and comfort conscious customers with the best quality leather shoes…let’s remember by using a footbed that replicates our natural footprint you treat your feet everyday!
