Birkenstock

Beautifully crafted, timelessly beautiful, and comfortable, too." That's what the expert judging panel had to say about the fashion highlights and accessories that were honored with the perfect piece award, which is given to products by freundin magazine. This coveted prize was awarded for the fourth time. The eight-person jury led by actress Alexandra Neldel and model Yfke Sturm selected 25 individual pieces – dresses, pants, tops, bags, and shoes – from around 1,000 fashion items produced by more than 100 labels. The award in the "Trendy Sandals" category went to BIRKENSTOCK – for a stylish reinterpretation of the classic thong model Gizeh. This "perfect piece", with its anatomically shaped footbed, boasts a spectacular metallic gold-colored look.

The perfect piece award doesn't honor designers or labels, but rather individual fashion items, with the focus on well-being and comfort. "Perfect pieces" also have to demonstrate seasonal trend characteristics. In short, the award aims to recognize women's fashion that the wearer both feels comfortable and looks perfect in – and, in the judges' opinion, the classic Gizeh thong model passes the test with flying colors.

"You could walk around town in them all day long without any trouble," says judge Alexandra Neldel in the latest issue of freundin. The prize was launched by the publication's fashion editors. The magazine itself is published by Burda and boasts a circulation of some three million readers, with a target group comprising young working women aged between 25 and 50.

"We are delighted to have received this award and would like to thank the judges," says Oliver Reichert, CEO of the BIRKENSTOCK Group. "We feel that the fashion experts' verdict accurately reflects our brand. BIRKENSTOCK is synonymous with outstanding quality, excellent craftsmanship, the finest materials, and exceptional comfort." Markus Bensberg, CEO of the BIRKENSTOCK Group, had this to add: "As the inventors of the footbed, we are especially pleased that the jury didn't just make their decision based on fashion, but on functionality too. After all, that's where our roots are."

From a sandals brand to an all-year brand

The 2015 fall/winter collection offers proof of the broad portfolio offered by this traditional brand, which can look back on more than 240 years of history. It features a wealth of new and surprising models – alongside stylish reinterpretations of classic sandals, the collection also includes casual ankle boots, rustic biker boots, and plenty of cool kids' styles.

Among the highlights are the men's and women's boots from the CASUAL ALLROUNDER line, new sneakers in URBAN SPORT STYLE, and the BLACK AND WHITE line. Sure to turn heads, the collection's flagship model is the suede Danbury in both black and white. With its shiny appliqué elements and gold buckles, it pays tribute to Arizona, BIRKENSTOCK's best-selling sandal. But as stylish as this eye-catching model is, every single detail has a practical function, whether the adjustable straps for a perfect fit or the shark-tooth sole that offers unbeatable grip on winter days. In other words, the 2015 fall/winter collection will see BIRKENSTOCK stay true to its holy trinity of quality, functionality, and style.