UPDATE: Details Into Birkenstock's Unsuccessful Supreme & Vetements Collaborations Emerge
“This is just prostitution.”
UPDATE: A representative at Vetements has responded that the brand was “in talks and working on a collaboration with Birkenstock for a past Vetements show when it was decided that the collaboration wouldn’t be pursued further given design/production restraints etc.”
Despite a number of high-profile collaborations — including last year’s release with colette and this year’s Rick Owens capsule — Birkenstock has also turned down some significant partnerships. In an interview with The Cut, the brand’s CEO Oliver Reichert had revealed that the label had been approached by Supreme and Vetements but had decided against the collaborations.
Reichert’s reasons for the decision were due to the already-high demand on Birkenstock and because Supreme and Vetements customers are probably already aware of the brand. Speaking to The Cut, Reichert added that “there’s no benefit for us except prostitution, because this is just prostitution.”
Following this conversation, the interviewer spoke to Vetements’ Demna Gvasalia who added that he “just wanted to work with Birkenstock because their shoes are so comfortable.” This later led to Reichert allowing his marketing team to reopen discussions with Vetements. Head over to The Cut to read the full interview with Oliver Reichert.
In other footwear news, Kith & Ronnie Fieg have curated a new archive New Balance collection.
