Designed By Nature. The footprint of Birkenstock is on the footbed. "No design, nature made up" is the saying when you turn back to a natural footbed by Karl Birkenstock, the parent of sandals. In other words, it is a functional beauty that was created by inevitably facing the shape of a human foot. In the early 1900s, when wood and metal footbeds were common, we developed innovative cork and rubber blue footbed. After this, sandals first appeared in the early 60s. Even in modern days, there is no need to improve comfort. Originating in 1774, the Birkenstock 240+ years of footprint starts with the footbed and continues to walk with the future.