Few brands embody heritage and modern relevance as effortlessly as Birkenstock. With a 250-year legacy to its name, FQ’s Creative Director Georgia Bramley spent four days in Germany exploring its world — from Brutalist Berlin landmarks to Görlitz’s cobbled streets, factory floors alive with craftsmanship, and Munich’s cultural enclaves — tracing the story of an icon through culture and craft.
Day One
The journey began in Qatar Airways’ business class, where Diptyque amenity kits and fine dining set the tone for the days ahead. With a line-up of skincare minis on hand to keep the long-haul glow intact, Georgia touched down in Berlin and freshened up at Hotel Telegraphenamt. From there, a visit to Boros Bunker, where Brutalism meets contemporary art, before lunch at Bar Basta. A three-hour drive carried her to Görlitz, a pastel-hued border town where she checked into the Romantik Hotel Tuchmacher. A twilight walking tour through cobbled streets and dinner in the square closed a cinematic first day.
Day Two
Waking up in Görlitz, sunlight and a quick run set the pace before breakfast at Romantik Hotel Tuchmacher. Outfit check — Camilla & Marc bodysuit, Glassons denim, Adidas Originals — then on to Bernstadt for a behind-the-scenes tour of Birkenstock’s production line, from uppers to the 1774 collection. In the afternoon, Georgia crafted her own pair of Arizonas, the brand’s most iconic style. The day ended with dinner in the square — steak mit pommes, wine, and old-world charm.
Day Three
The day began in Görlitz with a walk across the bridge into Poland before returning to the Romantik Hotel Tuchmacher to pack her bags and check out. Dressed in a Twenty Seven Names shirt, Georgia packed away her custom Arizonas before heading to the Görlitz factory to learn the anatomy of Birkenstock’s signature footbed: layers of jute, cork, latex and suede. She also discovered that much of the brand’s shearling is sourced from New Zealand. After a quick outlet stop, the journey continued through Prague to Munich, where she checked into the playful 25hours Hotel and ended the evening with schnitzel at Max Emanuel Brauerei.
Day Four
Her final day in Germany unfolded in Munich, where the morning was dedicated to Birkenstock’s archive. Dior collaborations and Kate Moss editorials from the ’90s sat alongside heritage footbeds and the brand’s evolving footcare line, offering a rare glimpse into its cultural legacy. From the showroom to the Englischer Garten, with a pretzel in hand, the city revealed its charm. A stop at St Peter’s Church added grandeur before the evening closed at Bar Tatar, where caviar-topped pasta and tartare made for an elegant farewell. With her suitcase packed, it was time to bid Germany auf wiedersehen.
Photography: Georgia Bramley
