Birkenstock Footbed Logo Color Change (Original Footbed: Black vs Yellow Ink)

Logo Color Change on the Original Footbed

Spring has Sprung and folks are getting their hands on the latest Birkenstock styles.  Buyers are beginning to notice that the newest Birkenstocks no longer have that familiar yellow Birkenstock imprint on the footbed.  In fact, many readers are asking if the Birkenstocks that they have received are fake because their shoes have a footbed with a black imprint.

What Changed—and Why Birkenstock Updated the Logo Color

Birkenstock recently changed the color of the imprint, from yellow to black, on their original footbed shoes. The imprint of the soft footbed Birkenstocks remain blue.  From what I gathered on my tour at Birkenstock USA, the color change on the original footbed is simply cosmetic.  The black  is more complimentary to the various colors of the Birkenstock uppers compared to yellow.

Even though the new footbeds have the black impressions, you might still receive new Birkenstocks with the old yellow logo.  What is even more confusing is that online pictures might show a shoe with one type of footbed, but you might receive the same shoe with a different colored logo.  This happened to me when I ordered a pair of red Mayaris from Birkenstock USA.  Their webpage advertised the red Mayari with the yellow logo on the footbed.  However, I received the red Mayari with the new black logo.

Original Footbed: Yellow vs Black Imprint

This is the picture of the Mayari online at Birkenstock USA

Image from Birkenstock USA's webpage has yellow logo

This is the shoe that was shipped out to me:

Birkenstock that I received has a black logo

Let me provide you with another example.  I recently purchased two new pairs of Birkenstocks.  I ordered a pair of black snake skin Mayaris directly from Birkenstock USA and ordered another pair of black leather Gizehs from Zappos.

Authenticity Check: Reading Footbed Logos and Markings

The Mayaris arrived with the black imprint on the footbed:

Birkenstock Mayari Black Snake Skin with Black Logo on Footbed

The Gizehs arrived with the yellow imprint on the footbed:

Birkenstock Black Leather Gizeh with Yellow Logo on Footbed

Size/Footprint Position Changes Explained

Both pairs of shoes are brand spanking new, the biggest difference is the color of the logo.  If you take a closer look, you might also notice that the size and the footprint have switched positions. 

“Brand Sole Leder” Icon vs New Symbol Without Text

A third noticeable difference is that icon on the older footbed read “Brand Sole Leder”, whereas the new footbed has a logo without words.

Differences between the yellow and black logos on the footbeds

Buying From Authorized Retailers to Avoid Fakes

In short, the Birkenstock footbed logo color change from yellow to black is purely cosmetic.  Both the yellow and black imprints (and blue on soft footbeds) are authentic, and variations even show up within the same style like the Mayari and Gizeh.  Differences in logo color, size placement, and symbols can be confusing, but if your sandals come from an authorized Birkenstock retailer, they’re the real deal.  If you’re still worried about counterfeits, check out my post on "How To Spot Fake Birkenstocks", for peace of mind.  

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Your Complete Guide to Identifying Real vs. Fake Birkenstocks

A lot has changed in the Birkenstock world since I first wrote this blog back in 2017.  Today, the color of the Birkenstock footbed logo varies widely—between regular sandals, seasonal releases, exquisite leather footbeds, and limited editions.  Add the Papillio line into the mix and things get even more confusing.  With so much variation, it can be tough to know what’s authentic and what’s not. If you want to sharpen your eye and learn how to tell the difference between real vs. fake Birkenstocks, be sure to check out these in-depth guides: Spotting Fake Birkenstocks, Spotting Fake/Knock-Off Counterfeit Birkenstocks Part 2, Spotting Fake/Knock-Off Counterfeit Birkenstocks Part 3, and Bogus Birkenstocks.