72 Hours of Culture and Craftmanship in Milan with Birkenstock
Milan: a city of fashion, culture, magnificent cathedrals and ginormous fried pizzas. In order to explore its many sprawling piazzas and cobblestone streets, a sturdy and stylish pair of functional shoes are always in order—which is precisely where Birkenstock comes in. Over three days in mid-September, the quintessential German shoe brand invited an eclectic group of tastemakers to experience their Italian side and commemorate the recent opening of their new Milan store. Named “Gli Artigiani di Milano” (“The Artisans of Milan”), the program brought together creatives from a multitude of different mediums to celebrate their contributions to the city’s arts and culture scene—curated by a brand who live and breathe big-city leisure.
Day one began at Erba Brusca, a down-to-earth restaurant in the south of the city, where chef and foraging expert Alessandro Di Tizio led a workshop expedition to source ingredients for a hearty, plant-based meal. Clad in Super Birki 2.0s, Birkenstock’s colorfully professional rubber clogs, and aprons designed by Studio Older (which could be buttoned up to transform into tote bags!), we picked dandelion leaves and bunches of purslane, while Alessandro gave the lowdown on what edible plants are potentially growing wild in urban environments. All the hard work paid off, as back at the restaurant, a spread of crusty bread topped with veggies straight from the backyard garden and warm banana bread saw us through until the end of the evening.
The next day, we congregated at the Birkenstock store to meet with Michele DeLiguoro, who–fun fact–used to be the chef at Rovello 18, the restaurant that used to occupy the same building as the store. He told us tales of old school Brera, which, given the bustling metropolitan vibes right under the store’s second story windows, seemed both at our fingertips and miles away.
What was nearby, however, was the Brera Botanical Gardens, where the second half of the evening unfolded. Amid the exotic plants and stunning flowers, Birkenstock had set up an installation showcasing some of their most recent styles: the soft, lace-up UTTI and of course, the MILANO sandal, with its traditional three straps and cork footbed.
Further nestled at the heart of the garden, chef Mimosa Misasi presented a veritable feast full of marinated watermelon, miso-basted bok choy, herby gnocchi, and other delights enhanced with the foraged materials from the day before. After dinner, singer, dancer and artist Francesa Heart wowed the crowd with an ethereal performance featuring bird calls, experimental electro soundscapes, and contemporary dance. In this secluded garden, you could barely believe that we were still in the heart of Milan.
If you visit the Birkenstock Milan store, you’ll spot gorgeous sculptures inspired by anatomical drawings of feet adorning the shelves alongside the selection of shoes—those would be by sculptor Gianluca Brando, who was present at the closing party on the last day of the event. While he talked us through his artistic process, upstairs Chef Misasi brought out a seemingly never-ending buffet of high-concept bites, like savory cream puffs, giant mounds of whipped cheese, and… a foot made of butter (the star of the show). Tunes were provided by Milanese DJ duo and underground dance music legends Santa Maria Sound Studio, who played everything from Italo disco to Sade.
In the end, Milan came out as the perfect venue to experience the Birkenstock ethos: classic style, undeniable functionality, and creative ingenuity. Every aspect of the three-day excursion, whether it was picking our own food, discovering new cuisines, or appreciating innovative art and design, had us basking in the city’s centuries-old creative aura. Along with their new store, Birkenstock has now fully entrenched themselves in Milan, and the culture is better for it.
