Birkenstock enlists artist collaborators to host workshops in Shoreditch

Footwear brand Birkenstock is launching a ‘community studio’ to host, partner with and promote a series of artists-in-residence in London's Shoreditch at The Truman Brewery.

The brand, which is rooted in its anatomically contoured footbed, is known worldwide for its best-selling range of sandals, clogs and shoes. The 'BIRKENSTOCK STUDIO: WALK WITH ME' initiative is a free programme of events and workshops through which the brand connects and collaborates with London’s creative community in the heart of East London.

The title of the studio is a reference to "our lives in motion" and the human quest to sought out opportunities to connect with and learn from one another.

The first London-based artist-in-residence at the space is Londoner and RCA graduate Helen Kirkum.

Kirkum's designs are at the cutting edge of the sustainable footwear movement. Her creations tell challenging stories of design, craft, product and value. Each piece Kirkum designs invites the consumer to rethink the nature and meaning of art and consumption. In a series of open-door workshops, she will be conjuring up a series of one-off pieces, which will give a rare insight into her process that aligns with the German footwear brand’s core DNA.

BIRKENSTOCK STUDIO: WALK WITH ME will open four days a week, from Thursday to Sunday, at Dray Walk Gallery, 91 Brick Ln, London E1 6QL.