Birkenstock sandals are made by Birkenstock Holding plc, a German heritage footwear company majority owned by L Catterton and Financiere Agache, the private equity firm backed by LVMH chairman Bernard Arnault’s family.
The company still manufactures nearly all of its sandals in Germany, using the same cork and latex footbed design perfected by the Birkenstock family generations ago.
That German craftsmanship is exactly why so many shoppers are surprised to learn Birkenstock is no longer a small family business, but part of a multi billion dollar portfolio tied to the world’s biggest luxury conglomerate.
Below, we break down who actually controls Birkenstock today, when the company was founded, where its sandals are made, and how it stacks up against rivals like Crocs and UGG.
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Who Owns Birkenstock?
Birkenstock is majority owned by L Catterton, the world’s largest consumer focused private equity firm, which bought its controlling stake alongside Financiere Agache in February 2021, according to the official acquisition announcement.
That deal valued Birkenstock at roughly 4 billion euros, a huge jump from the modest, quietly profitable company it had been for decades.
Financiere Agache is the holding company through which Bernard Arnault’s family controls LVMH, though LVMH itself does not directly own Birkenstock shares.
Birkenstock went public on the New York Stock Exchange on October 11, 2023, raising about 1.48 billion dollars at an 8.64 billion dollar valuation, with L Catterton keeping roughly 72 percent voting control, as WWD reported at the time.
Brothers Christian and Alexander Birkenstock, descendants of the founding family, still hold a minority stake and remain personally involved in the company’s German operations today.
When Was Birkenstock Founded?
Birkenstock traces its roots back to 1774, when a shoemaker named Johann Adam Birkenstock was first listed in German parish records, according to company history records.
The brand’s modern identity really began in 1897, when Konrad Birkenstock designed a flexible, contoured shoe insert meant to support natural foot movement rather than force the foot into a rigid shape.
His son Carl Birkenstock turned that insert into a retail product in 1902, selling it to shoemakers across Germany.
A later leader, Karl Birkenstock, created the contoured cork and latex footbed sandal in 1963, the exact shape most people recognize as a Birkenstock today.
After Karl retired in the early 2000s, his three sons Christian, Stephan, and Alexander briefly split the business into competing product lines before eventually reuniting it under one roof.
Where Are Birkenstock Sandals Made?
Birkenstock manufactures nearly all of its footwear inside Germany rather than outsourcing production to lower cost countries like most of its competitors.
The company operates several company owned factories across Germany, including a facility in Friedberg, Hesse, that have produced its footbeds for generations of workers.
Each sandal still relies on the same layered cork, latex, and jute footbed construction the brand has used since the 1960s, updated only with modern quality controls.
Company leaders have repeatedly said German manufacturing is central to the brand’s identity, even as ownership of the company itself has changed hands twice.
CEO Oliver Reichert has continued to invest heavily in German factories rather than shifting output overseas to chase cheaper labor costs.
What Birkenstock Styles Does the Company Make?
Birkenstock’s lineup centers on classic two strap sandals such as the Arizona, along with the single strap Madrid and the closed toe Boston clog.
The Gizeh thong sandal and the Milano three strap style round out the core collection sold across most retail markets worldwide.
Beyond sandals, Birkenstock also produces closed shoes, slippers, orthopedic inserts, and a growing collection of leather bags built around the same footbed philosophy.
High profile collaborations with fashion houses such as Dior and designers like Manolo Blahnik have pushed the brand into luxury retail alongside its everyday lineup.
Birkenstock vs Crocs vs UGG: Who Makes Each?
Birkenstock, Crocs, and UGG all sell comfort focused footwear, but each one is made by a completely different kind of company with a different manufacturing model.
Crocs are made by Crocs Inc, a publicly traded American company that molds its shoes from a proprietary closed cell foam resin called Croslite.
You can see how that production works in our guide on where Crocs shoes are made.
UGG boots are made by Deckers Brands, an American footwear company that also owns Hoka and Teva under one corporate umbrella.
Our breakdown of who makes UGG boots covers how Deckers built that sheepskin boot business into a billion dollar brand.
Birkenstock is the only one of the three still built mainly inside company owned German factories rather than through contract manufacturing spread across Asia.
Is Birkenstock Still a Family Company?
Birkenstock is no longer a family controlled company in the traditional sense, though the founding family has not fully exited the business.
L Catterton and Financiere Agache hold the controlling stake and set overall strategy for the company since the 2021 buyout closed.
Christian and Alexander Birkenstock retained a minority ownership position and continue to oversee production standards inside the German factories.
That distinction matters to longtime buyers who associate Birkenstock with generations of German craftsmanship rather than a private equity investment portfolio.
Are Birkenstock Sandals Worth It?
Most reviewers consider Birkenstock sandals worth the higher price because of their durability and genuinely orthopedic footbed design.
The cork and latex footbed molds to the wearer’s individual foot shape over time, which podiatrists frequently cite as a real comfort benefit rather than marketing language.
Owners commonly praise consistent sizing and long term durability, though some note the sandals require a short break in period and cost more than mass market alternatives.
Frequently Asked Questions About Who Makes Birkenstock
Who makes Birkenstock sandals?
Birkenstock sandals are made by Birkenstock Holding plc, a German company majority owned by L Catterton and Financiere Agache since 2021.
Is Birkenstock a German brand?
Yes, Birkenstock was founded in Germany in the eighteenth century and remains headquartered and manufactured there today, despite its new international ownership.
Are Birkenstock sandals still made in Germany?
Yes, the vast majority of Birkenstock footwear is produced in company owned factories inside Germany rather than shipped in from overseas contractors.
Is Birkenstock owned by LVMH?
Not directly. Birkenstock is owned by Financiere Agache and L Catterton, and Financiere Agache is the Arnault family vehicle that also controls LVMH separately.
I am Jack Neel, a mechanical engineer, researcher, and writer. I created this website to share my knowledge about different brands and products with you. I research the manufacturers behind the brands and provide you with the information you need to make smart buying decisions.