Shoe fiends will be more than familiar with the work of Thibo Denis. The Parisian designer — who has never gone to fashion school — is the mastermind behind Dior Men’s brilliant footwear streak during its Kim Jones era; the Dior B23, Dior x Air Jordan 1, and maison’s rework of the Milano and Tokio Birkenstock styles are just some of his famous brainchildren. Now, he continues to build on his own design legacy with a Birkenstock reunion, making him a rare two-time collaborator with the heritage footwear brand — only this time it’s under his own name, and helps to launch Birkenstock’s new collaborative platform, ENSEMBLE 1774.
The ENSEMBLE 1774 by Thibo Denis collection introduces three original silhouettes that develop not from the idea of a the traditional sandal, but the sneaker — bread and butter for the streetwear-loving designer. Named after the brand’s historic factory locations, the Uerzell, a refined soft suede slip-on mule; the Stroedt, a low-profile lace-up style with pared-back construction and a single upper strap; and the Goerlitz, a chunky laced sneaker that features two upper straps that subtly echo the Arizona’s double-strap structure, are all more dynamic in both shape and colour. The effect is what one might associate with the sport of “climbing”, or wandering through urban landscapes — the informant of Denis’ approach to his creations.
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“I was inspired by the 1970s, when guys were wearing jeans and leather jackets to climb mountains. A true 1970s vintage idea with a modern twist,” shared the designer. “The tooling was mainly focused on the codes of the Birkenstock house — I wanted the cork to be very obvious, but I wanted to smooth it out to give it more ergonomic, dynamic lines. I wanted the materials and colours to be the giveaway that it’s Birkenstock.” The colour palette features tonal colours, the rich suedes featured not just a reminder of the rugged charm of the outdoors, but also the idea of ease and comfort in movement.
All three feature Birkenstock’s signature Blue Footbed, which is a removable, anatomically shaped insole rooted in the brand’s orthopedic tradition. It is designed to support all arches of the foot, distributing pressure evenly across the entire surface — as if walking barefoot on natural ground. What’s a Birkenstock shoe without its better-with-time charm?
Learn more about The ENSEMBLE 1774 by Thibo Denis collection on Instagram. The collection is available exclusively at the BIRKENSTOCK Marina Bay Sands boutique and online. Once you are done with this story, click here to catch up with our October 2025 issue.