The Birkenstock family of Germany created their first shoe business
in 1774, but only found international popularity after the shoes
were imported to America by a foot-sore travelling housewife!
The sandal's soft insole resembles a footprint and moulds to the
foot.
Popular with tree-huggers in the 1970s, they lost their footing
a bit during the eighties but came back to prominence in 1992.
