BIRKENSTOCK secures win at Retail Asia Awards for new store in Singapore

The unique Duxton store showcases the brand’s premium footwear offerings, including the coveted 1774 BIRKENSTOCK line. 

At the Retail Asia Awards 2024, iconic German footwear brand BIRKENSTOCK won the Store  Design of the Year (Small) – Singapore category for the launch of its highly-anticipated House of  BIRKENSTOCK located in Singapore’s vibrant Duxton neighbourhood. This store represents the way forward for the brand and is the first of its kind in Southeast Asia, designed with an amalgamation of the BIRKENSTOCK heritage as a classic German brand rooted in tradition,  quality and function, and Singapore’s local culture.  

In designing the House of BIRKENSTOCK, meticulous attention has been paid to ensuring that the decor and furniture incorporate handcrafted elements akin to the brand’s footwear, as well as local design elements. These include the traditional Chinese wooden signboard at the store’s entrance carved by a master craftsman from Penang, and the use of handmade paper lanterns made by one of Singapore’s last remaining lantern-makers.  

The House of BIRKENSTOCK brings a contemporary touch to tradition whilst paying homage to local culture. The store houses a contemporary Peranakan water feature that is often seen in the air wells of Peranakan homes, with a 6-metre-high BIRKENSTOCK feature wall adorned with a mini waterfall and plants. To make this four-storey space particularly special, a collection of iconic  BIRKENSTOCK footbeds lines the fountain in the spirit of Naturgewolltes Gehen, Walking As  Nature Intended. Set around the store, vintage leather luggage pieces sourced by the  BIRKENSTOCK team embrace quality and craftsmanship – the hallmarks of BIRKENSTOCK  footwear. Design elements within the store are crafted with cork, such as the history wall, display panels and shoe presenters, keeping in line with the footbed as the core of the brand.  

This store presents the largest selection of BIRKENSTOCK footwear in Singapore, including the sought-after 1774 collections for the first time in Southeast Asia. As the brand’s special projects and collaborations arm, 1774 reimagines the classic silhouettes in fashion-forward and innovative styles through collaborations with distinguished designers such as Valentino, Dior, Manolo  Blahnik, Jil Sander, Fear of God and Rick Owens.

Since opening in November 2023, BIRKENSTOCK has launched many in-store events to strengthen its relationship with the community, including sandal customisation services with local artist Tiffany Lovage, a personal foot spa for guests, and a Christmas plant workshop with plant design studio Soilboy. There are also plans to introduce a further range of services to visitors in  the near future, including shoe customisation and repairs.  

The response to the House of BIRKENSTOCK has been impressive, with thousands of visitors within the first two weeks of opening, as well as a strong and sustained interest in the store across both media and social media channels. A diverse demographic of shoppers continues to visit the store, with both local Singapore residents and tourists from around the world walking in to explore a BIRKENSTOCK shopping experience unlike any they have seen before.  

Retail Asia Awards is a prestigious accolade honouring companies that have recently launched innovative retail projects and initiatives, as well as industry leaders that have propelled their respective brands to maintain a competitive edge.

The Retail Asia Awards is presented by Retail Asia Magazine. To view the full list of winners, click here. If you want to join the 2025 awards programme and be acclaimed for your company's exceptional products or initiatives in the Retail industry, please contact Jane Patiag at [email protected].