Birkenstock’s next collaboration is here, and it’s with a familiar face.
On Monday, the German footwear brand revealed it is reuniting with filmmaker, creative director and record executive Cole Bennett on an updated take on the Birkenstock Boston clog as part of its 1774 line, the company’s Paris-based special projects and collaborations unit.
For this collaboration, Bennett transforms the Boston clog, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, into a tactile statement piece. Indeed, the silhouette is reworked in off-white wool felt with a soft microfiber lining and finished with a custom crescent moon buckle in antique dark copper. True to the original silhouette, the anatomically shaped cork-latex footbed is left untouched.
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For Bennett, working with Birkenstock had been a dream of his for years.
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“I honestly get starstruck every time we hop on a Zoom meeting,” Bennett said in a statement. “Collaborating with this company resembles manifestation and fearless adventure. To represent that in the shoe, I wanted to create something immersive. Something that tells its own story. I encourage everyone to trim the wool to their liking, making these shoes their very own. Be careful with them if you wish, but the off-white color is my way of encouraging people to get them a little dirty. Give them some character that feels true to you.”
Bennett — who has directed music videos for artists including Eminem, Justin Bieber, Juice Wrld, Kanye West, Drake, and more — added that his favorite detail of the shoe is the crescent moon buckle.
“It represents imagination and new beginnings,” he added. “Sometimes I just touch my moon buckle if I ever need some good luck. My dog’s name is also Moon. She’s a furry mess. So in a way, this shoe is also a love letter to her.”
Bennett first appeared in the German footwear brand’s “Birkenstories” series in 2018 — an award-winning documentary series that portrayed individuals from around the world whose lives are closely connected to the company. Already a committed wearer of Birkenstock, Bennett’s feature in “Birkenstory #6” reflected a genuine connection between the young cultural disrupter and the brand.
To celebrate this new launch, Birkenstock revisits “Birkenstories” with a new chapter featuring Bennett nearly a decade after his first appearance in the series. Filmed between Chicago — the city that has shaped Bennett’s creative vision — and his hometown of Plano, Ill., the documentary reconnects with him to reflect on his creative journey and enduring relationship with Birkenstock.
Complementing the documentary, campaign imagery features Bennett’s grandfather, adding another deeply personal dimension to the project, while Bennett himself directed the campaign film. Unfolding through a single, intimate scene, the film brings together a group of people quietly pruning bonsai trees in unison. The meditative moment echoes the themes at the heart of the design, reflecting the beauty of shaping something over time through patience, care and intention, Birkenstock noted.
The Birkenstock by Cole Bennett Boston launches on Oct. 1 on 1774.com, Bycolebennett.com and at selected retailers worldwide.
This new collection comes at a time when Birkenstock’s designer collaborations are gaining a lot of attention. Earlier this month, the company released its hotly anticipated collaboration with Etro, which featured takes on the Boston clog and the Gizeh sandal.
In August, the company released its second collection with South Korean label Ader Error on a range of updated Boston clogs.
One month earlier, Birkenstock revealed its tie-up with French shoe company Repetto. The ballet-inspired range featured the Arizona sandal, the Scala and the Opéra sabot. The range was unified by a Vichy-check gingham footbed lining — a Repetto signature motif.
And in June, Birkenstock previewed its new collaboration with Sacai at the Japanese fashion label’s spring/summer 2027 show during Paris men’s fashion week. The two footwear styles merged elements from three different Birkenstock silhouettes for a mash up of buckles on a sandal and clog silhouette.
