Vintage Birkenstocks Recrafted | Transforming Old Styles into New Treasures

vintage birkenstocks recrafted

If you have been following my blog for awhile, you know how much I love to recraft vintage Birkenstocks.  I enjoy seeking out older styles/models of Birks, that have been retired by Birkenstock, and transforming them into something unique.  For any true Birkenstock lover, finding such gems on Poshmark, eBay, Mercari, Craigslist, garage sales, a wonderful small business owner, or even at second hand store, is like hitting the jackpot.

I am not going to write another Do-It-Yourself blog.  I have already done that.  If you have no idea what I mean by recrafting, then please start by reading my post "Recrafting" or "Recrafts by Michelangelo".  To learn how to paint your Birkenstocks, read my article titled "Bespoke Birkenstock".   To find out how to customize your Birks with color cream, check out my blog "Birkenstock Diva".  

Here is a sneak peak of what to expect in today's post.  Be sure to follow @ilovebirkenstocks on Instagram for more awesome niche sandal content:

Meet the Messina: Customizing a Retired Classic

I have been looking for a pair of Birkenstock Messina sandals for quite awhile.  I found these on Poshmark and paid $21, including shipping.  Here is what they looked like when they arrived:

Birkenstock Messina Before Customization

Vintage Birkenstock Messina sandals as purchased on Poshmark for $21 before customization and recraft.

Step One: Disassembling and Prepping for Paint

I disassembled them at home, in my oven, so that I could customize them, before I sent them to Custom Made Birkenstocks for recrafting.  Instructions on how to remove the Birkenstock uppers from the soles and footbeds are in the blog post, "Birkenstock Diva".  

Birkenstock Messina Disassembled for Customization

Straps removed and uppers separated from the footbeds to prepare the Messina sandals for painting.

Once Birkenstocks are deconstructed, one can paint the leather evenly.  Here is what the sandals looked like after they were taken apart.  

Recrafted Birkenstock Messina ​deconstructed

Disassembled Messina, before painting

Painting with Angelus Leather Paint for a Flawless Finish

I always use Angelus Direct leather paint when customizing my Birkenstocks.   Angelus leather paint is top notch.  The paint goes on smooth, dries evenly, and there is never evidence of brush strokes once the paint dries.  Please note, that I find leather paint to be more time efficient, and a heck of a lot less messy, compared to dyeing leather.   For this project, I chose the color Pearlescent Rose Gold as my base coat, and then added a single layer of matching glitterlites to provide a touch of shimmer.  This picture below shows the final product.

The Glitterlites Effect: Sparkle and Shine in the Sun

Recrafted Birkenstock Messina in Pearlescent Rose Gold

Customized Messina sandals transformed with Angelus Pearlescent Rose Gold leather paint and Glitterlites shimmer.

This short video shows you how the glitterlites sparkle in the sun.  I am thoroughly satisfied with my updated version of the Birkenstock Messina.

Meet the Jakarta: From Worn Metallic Gold to Chic Pewter​

My second, spectacular customization, revolves around the Birkenstock Jakarta.  This beautiful sandal was released several years ago.  I found this pair on Poshmark and paid about $40.  Given the laser cut outs and the rarity of this Birkenstock, $40 is a steal!  Granted, they looked very rough when they arrived.  The metallic gold on the leather was peeling away, no surprise when it comes to Birkenstock metallic leathers.  You just look at a shiny metallic Birkenstock and it scratches.   Here is what the Birkenstocks looked like when I bought them.

Birkenstock Jakarta Before Customization

Vintage Jakarta sandals purchased for $40 in rough condition with peeling metallic gold leather.

As you can see, they looked extremely worn out.  I was not sure that I wanted to keep them.  I took a poll on Instagram and 80% of the pollers suggested that I resell them.  One reader voted that I keep them and repaint them pewter.  I was not sure that I wanted to go through the trouble of painting these, but her suggestion remained in the back of my mind.  I listed them on eBay.  For months, I had them for sale on eBay.  Even at my rock bottom price, they would not sell!!  I decided to show everyone what they were missing, and I painted them........pewter.  Heck, I had already paid for them, mind as well customize them to Gina Mama standards.

As with the Messinas, I deconstructed the Jakartas in the oven,  then I used nail polish remover and a cotton ball, to wipe off the remaining gold paint.   The metallic paint came off easily.  Once dry, I painted them flat black, added a top coat of pewter, and then brushed three layers pewter glitterlites.   These babies were going to have so much sparkle, that you would see me coming from a mile away!!

Here is what the Jakartas looked like, once I pulled the straps off the footbeds, and removed the gold metallic finish:

Jakartas pre customization

This video showcases the sparkly goodness of the glitterlites, before the recraft.

Birkenstock Jakarta video showcasing pewter paint

Leather-Lined Footbeds | Elevating Recrafted Birkenstocks

Once again, I made all these changes using Angelus Direct paint.  After my customization process at home, I shipped them off to Custom Made Birkenstocks, for the final recraft.  With this pair of Jakartas, I had something special in mind.  I wanted these rare sandals to have an exquisite leather lined footbed.  Many of my favorite Birkenstocks have such footbeds.  Wrapping the Jakarta's footbed in leather, turned these otherwise pretty Birks, into something très chic.   Just look at the final product:

Recrafted Birkenstock Jakarta in Sparkly Pewter

Birkenstock Jakarta transformed with pewter paint, Glitterlites shimmer, and a custom leather-lined footbed.

Meet the Persian Velvet Arizona: A San Francisco Giants Inspired Transformation

The final pair of Birkenstocks that I transformed, was a pair of Orange Persian Velvet Arizonas.   I wanted these Orange Velvet Birkenstocks when they were first released.  However, I chose to forgo them at the time because they were only released in narrow width.   

A few months ago, Sandy, from Sandy's Birkenstock Boutique, mentioned that she had a pair of Brown Persian Velvet Arizonas in my size.  The pair that Sandy had was new old stock!!  She asked if I wanted to buy them before she listed them on eBay.  I did not have to give this a second thought, I quickly answered "YES"!   Since my foot shape changed, ever so slightly, after completing a round of a crazy 80 day workout program, I was confident that I would now be able to fit into a narrow width Arizona.

I loved the Brown Persian Velvet Arizonas so much, I knew that I had to find a pair of orange ones too.  It took me several weeks, scouring the internet, before I finally found a pair.  Here is what they looked like when I bought them on Poshmark:

Vintage Persian Velvet Arizona Before Recrafting

Orange Persian Velvet Arizona sandals in original narrow width condition before customization.

Custom Leather Footbeds | The Perfect Black & Orange Finish

They were the perfect orange.  As a born and raised Bay Area girl, my heart belongs to the San Francisco Giants.  These Arizonas were Giants orange!!

I shipped them off to Michelangelo, at Custom Made Birkenstocks, with no modifications.  The only customization needed on my end, was a vision.  My vision was "orange and black" (the San Francisco Giants colors).   These velvet orange Arizonas needed to have an exquisite black leather footbed.  I told Michelangelo what I wanted, and as the true artist that he is, he made it happen.  The final customization with the leather lined footbed will make every Birkenstock lover drool.  Check these out:

Recrafted Persian Velvet Arizonas with Leather-Lined Footbed

Customized Persian Velvet Arizonas with black leather-lined footbeds, inspired by San Francisco Giants colors.

Words do not describe how much I treasure these orange Arizonas.  They are be beautiful, dressy, and unique. I guarantee you that I will wear these every chance that I get.  Especially come April, when baseball season begins!  

Why Recrafting Birkenstocks is Worth It

It is truly amazing how a little imagination, quality leather paint, and an incredible cobbler, can truly transform any shabby looking pair of Birkenstocks.   I have provided you the tips and techniques for making changes to your Birkenstocks.   Now go out there and find a vintage pair that you *MUST* have and customize the heck out of them!  I challenge you to take my DIY blogs and actually DO-IT-YOURSELF!!   Post pictures of your customized Birkenstocks on my Facebook page.   I can't wait to see how you have customized your Birkenstocks!!!  

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Related Birkenstock Blogs: Care Tips, Style Guides & Recrafting Stories

Take a journey through my library of Birkenstock blogs for fresh ideas, shoe care hacks, and true stories from a lifelong fan of authentic Birkenstocks. Learn how to repair your sandals with professional recrafting by Michelangelo at Custom Made Birkenstocks, explore DIY customization projects using Angelus paints and Glitterlites, or check out step-by-step tips in Repair My Birkenstocks.  Whether you’re interested in spotting fake Birkenstocks, preserving vintage pairs, or keeping your sandals stylish for decades, these posts celebrate both artisan craftsmanship and everyday comfort.


Don’t miss Sandy’s Guest Blog, where she shows off her colorful Mayaris, or dive into Birkenstock Diva and Magical Red Glitterlites to see how I transformed “Pepto-pink” disappointments into dazzling statement shoes. White Sole Birkenstocks gives my honest take on fashion vs. function. And if cozy comfort is what you crave, Shearling Lined Birkenstocks Part 1 & Part 2 prove why shearling styles are worth every penny.


Beyond the written blogs, don’t forget my Videos page, where I share reviews, recrafting projects, and even quirky lifestyle clips.  My goal is to help you keep your sandals looking fresh, feeling comfortable, and lasting for years.


If you’re curious about how I balance my love of Birks with other footwear, read I Love Hoka, where I share how Hoka sneakers rescued me from heel pain and became my go-to shoes for travel and long days on my feet.  For longtime fans wondering if Birkenstock still delivers that magic touch, When Magic Happens celebrates the brand’s return to quality materials, regular widths, and thoughtful details that remind us why we fell in love with them in the first place.


If you’ve ever doubted what you’ve heard online, don’t miss 10 Birkenstock Myths That Influencers Keep Getting Wrong, where I debunk the biggest misconceptions floating around social media with facts, experience, and plenty of Birkenstock wisdom.  For first-time fans, Top 10 Tips for New Birkenstock Wearers offers practical advice on sizing, break-in, and confidence.  And if you’ve been rocking Birks for years, you’ll laugh along with Top 10 Ways To Know You Are a Birkenstock Addict, a playful countdown that proves you’re not alone in your sandal obsession.


For those looking to avoid costly mistakes, Top 10 Birkenstock Mistakes is a must-read, covering everything from spillage to neglecting cork care—and yes, even socks with Birks.  And finally, for a milestone worth celebrating, 100 Reasons Why I Love Birkenstocks is my ultimate love letter to the sandals that shaped my style, supported my health, and connected me with an entire community of Birkenstock lovers.

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Recrafted Orange Velvet Birkenstock Arizonas Meet Barry Bonds’ Bat.   Follow me on IG @ilovebirkenstocks for more awesome snaps, custom Birkenstocks, and behind-the-scenes Birk love.

Game day ready! These custom orange velvet Birkenstock Arizonas—recrafted with sleek black leather footbeds—pair perfectly with San Francisco Giants pride. Photographed alongside Barry Bonds’ bat, they’re proof that Birks can hit it out of the park in both style and comfort.

Zebra Big Buckle Arizonas – The Secret Michelangelo Transformation only revealed in my exclusive Facebook Group.

Step into the wild side. These rare Zebra Big Buckle Birkenstocks have a story you won’t find on my blog (yet!). Want to see Michelangelo’s incredible recraft reveal? Join my private Facebook group where I share exclusive behind-the-scenes Birkenstock transformations, style tips, and Birk addict secrets.

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