Worldcrunch
Birkenstock shoes are more popular than ever, selling some 30 million pairs in 2023. The German brand, founded in 1897, and others — from Dr. Scholl’s wooden sandals to barefoot shoes by Leguano, Joe Nimble or Vivobarefoot — have an aura of being healthy and good for your feet. But does the science support this clog craze?
On the road to the 2024 Olympic Games, the global leader of sport has launched a major offensive to regain ground lost in recent years in the athletic gear market, and is preparing a flurry of innovations to rekindle the flame of fuel-starved global sales.
The new “Sneakers” exhibition in Dusseldorf features pairs that sell for six figures and explores how the simple sports shoe became a global obsession.
Today, it’s sometimes difficult to distinguish between professional and casual wardrobes. Sneakers at the office, double-breasted jackets at the bar. What’s the reason for this stylistic and societal shift? A French look at all the mixing and matching in the post-pandemic era.