Our Materials: Oiled Leather
Birkenstock Oiled Leather has been coated with oils and waxes during the tanning process. This gives Birkenstock Oiled Leather products their distinctive rustic finish, rich colouring, and durability.
Birkenstock uses Oiled Leather across a vast majority of its range, from the classic Arizona and Boston to our seasonal boots and shoes; we even produced the Zurich backpack range in Oiled Nubuck.
We love the way Birkenstock Oiled Leather reflects our core values, by using natural materials chosen for sustainability and longevity.
Birkenstock Oiled Leathers are hand-finished, meaning that every batch will have a variation in tone and shade; this isn't a fault but rather a characteristic of the material. The more you wear in a pair of Oiled Leather Birkenstocks, the more character and love they show.
Below are examples of this variation where some pairs are lighter or darker. In some instances, pairs may have a more even finish while others have a slightly marbled appearance.
How to Care For Oiled Leather
Our Oiled Leather products can be both darkened and lightened to suit your desired finish. Our Leather Conditioner is recommended to protect and preserve the condition of the leather. It will temporarily darken the uppers of our footwear while eliminating surface scratches and superficial marks, ultimately renewing their appearance.
The oils in the leather will fade over time, so to retain a more rustic and weathered patina you can simply continue wearing them, conditioning them lightly once dry.
Alternatively, you can use our Footbed & Shoe Protector which contains lanolin and provides lighter protection without darkening the leather.
For more in-depth instructions on using our Shoe Care range for Oiled Leather, you can view our Shoe Care guides here.
Summary
There is a good reason why our Oiled Leather Birkenstocks are amongst our best-selling and most loved offerings; their robust, organic appearance and rugged sturdiness reflect Birkenstock’s ethos by using natural materials and finishes. Birkenstock’s focus on foot health, and walking as intended by nature, demands the highest quality natural materials.
