US$76,000 for a pair of Birkenstock sandals? Say hello to the ‘Birkinstock’
MSCHF, a Brooklyn-based art collective, has created what it calls “the most exclusive sandal ever made” – Birkenstocks made from actual Hermes Birkin bags.
US art collective MSCHF have ripped apart four Hermes Birkin bags to create the "Birkinstock" sandals. (Photo: MSCHF)
We won’t deny that Birkenstock sandals are pretty comfortable, but they do get a bad rap for being rather, umm, ugly. But what if they’re made from actual Hermes Birkin bags?
In what may be considered an insane or genius move, MSCHF, a US art collective, has ripped apart four prized Hermes Birkin bags (the horror!) to create what could be the world’s most expensive sandals.
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Dubbed the "Birkinstocks" (which, of course, have no affiliations to Birkenstock or Hermes, and does raise questions on their legality), these sandals are priced between US$34,000 to US$76,000 (S$46,423 to S$100,805). They feature gold vermeil buckles, and actual Birkenstock cork soles.
There are different iterations in black, maroon and white, and the price depends on the original Birkin the sandals are crafted from, as well as the length of the customer's feet. If you didn't know already, Hermes Birkin bags can cost five or six figures.
“We’re just sort of fascinated with destroying expensive things and creating something new out of them,” Daniel Greenberg, MSCHF’s head of strategy told The New York Times.
“Just the act of cutting up a Birkin bag scared so many people,” Lukas Bentel, MSCHF’s creative director told CNN. “It’s so sacred, you can’t damage it.”
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MSCHF, described by The New York Times as the Banksy of consumer culture, is known for creating some of the most absurd, viral projects across the Internet. They once created what they called “Jesus shoes”, which were basically Nike Air Max 97 sneakers filled with Holy Water.
The Birkinstock sandals are made to order and some US celebrities have already gotten their hands on a pair. Rapper Future is already modelling his Birkinstocks on his Instagram feed, and singer Kehlani has also been named as one of the buyers.
Whether they’re available this side of the world, however, is unclear, as the MSCHF app isn’t available for download in Singapore.
But if you can afford a pair, we're pretty sure you'll know how to get your hands on one.
