All products are selected independently. If you purchase one of these products, we may receive a commission.
For some years now, it seems that Birkenstock Boston and adidas Samba have experienced an unstoppable ascent, becoming more popular each season. Originally, it was a statement that **we felt** to be true, without being able to quantify the phenomenon exactly. Both models were and continue to be everywhere on social media and worn by the most stylish people on the planet. Now, the latest report from the fashion retailer Lyst finally confirms, with data in hand, our perceptions: it has been a huge year for both the Boston and the Samba.
The last two reports from Lyst Index, which analyze mentions on social media along with searches, page views, and more, have crowned the beloved cork-soled clog and the three-striped sporty sneaker as the “most fashionable products”. Although it is not a shock to see these models on the list – we have already talked about the Samba’s summer, while the New York Times reported Birkenstock’s inability to keep up with the demand for the Boston – we finally have official data to confirm the trend. Now we wonder: how did we end up loving these humble shoes so much?
In the magical world of hype, popularity is driven by novelty, collaborations, and scarcity. This imagery fits perfectly for both the Boston and the Samba. Both Birkenstock and adidas have used these models for multiple fashion collaborations, even with brands like Rick Owens, Jil Sander, and Stüssy (for the former) and Wales Bonner and Pharrell Williams’ Humanrace (for the latter). Word of mouth and demand for those limited-edition collaborations have only increased the desirability of their continuous counterparts. We have also seen both shoes on style gurus like Jonah Hill, Paul Mescal, Frank Ocean, Seth Rogen, A$AP Rocky, and they have been successful for women’s wear too: just look at Bella Hadid, Kendall Jenner, Dakota Johnson, and others. And do not underestimate TikTok’s sizzling algorithm and Instagram’s Explore page to push a model available in mass distribution to the stars.