Paris, France & Chicago, Illinois – BIRKENSTOCK reunites with filmmaker, creative director and record executive Cole Bennett for a collaboration that builds on a relation-ship spanning nearly a decade. Bennett first appeared in BIRKENSTOCK's Birkenstories series in 2018—an award-winning documentary series portraying authentic individuals from around the world whose lives are closely connected to the brand. Already a com-mitted wearer of BIRKENSTOCK, Bennett’s feature in Birkenstory #6 reflected a genuine connection between the young cultural disrupter and the footbed brand, whose roots in shoemaking date back to 1774, making this first product collaboration a natural continuation of that story.
Invited to create his dream BIRKENSTOCK, Bennett reinterprets the iconic Boston through his own creative lens. Launching as the Boston celebrates its 50th anniversary since its introduction in 1976, the collaboration pays tribute to one of BIRKENSTOCK's most enduring silhouettes.
Defined by Karl Birkenstock’s Brutalist-design language and centered around the signature footbed, the Boston is recognized for its distinctive semi-closed construc-tion, versatility and effortless wearability, becoming a cultural icon embraced across generations while remaining rooted in BIRKENSTOCK's core values of function, quality and tradition.
For this collaboration, Bennett transforms the Boston into a tactile and elevated state-ment piece. The silhouette is reworked in off-white wool felt with a soft microfiber lining and finished with a custom crescent Moon Buckle in antique dark copper. The design explores themes of imagination, transformation and permanence. The textured felt shifts in length, density and tone, evoking movement and evolution, while the crescent moon serves as a symbolic constant—a reminder that even as things evolve, some elements remain unchanged.
True to the essence of the original silhouette, the anatomically shaped cork-latex footbed is left untouched, preserving the integrity of the original design while allowing Bennett's interpretation to bring a fresh perspective to an enduring icon.
"Working with Birkenstock has been a dream of mine for over ten years. I honestly get starstruck every time we hop on a Zoom meeting. Collaborating with this company resembles manifestation and fearless adventure. To represent that in the shoe, I wanted to create something immersive. Something that tells its own story. I encourage every-one to trim the wool to their liking, making these shoes their very own. Be careful with them if you wish, but the off-white color is my way of encouraging people to get them a little dirty. Give them some character that feels true to you. My favorite detail of this shoe is the crescent moon buckle. It represents imagination and new beginnings. Sometimes I just touch my moon buckle if I ever need some good luck. My dog's name is also Moon. She's a furry mess. So in a way, this shoe is also a love letter to her." – Cole Bennett
Accompanying the launch, BIRKENSTOCK revisits Birkenstories with a new chapter featuring Bennett nearly a decade after his first appearance in the series. Filmed between Chicago—the city that has shaped Bennett's creative vision—and his hometown of Plano, Illinois, the documentary reconnects with him to reflect on his creative journey and enduring relationship with BIRKENSTOCK, offering an intimate portrait of the person behind the collaboration.
Complementing the documentary, the campaign extends Bennett's creative vision beyond the product. The campaign imagery features Bennett's grandfather, adding another deeply personal dimension to the project, while Bennett himself directed the campaign film. Unfolding through a single, intimate scene, the film brings together a group of people—including Bennett himself—quietly pruning bonsai trees in unison. The meditative moment echoes the themes at the heart of the design, reflecting the beauty of shaping something over time through patience, care and intention.
The BIRKENSTOCK by Cole Bennett Boston launches on October 1, 2026, on 1774.com, bycolebennett.com and at selected retailers worldwide.
About Cole Bennett
Cole Bennett is a filmmaker and creative director whose work has helped define the visual culture of modern music. Based in Chicago, he founded Lyrical Lemonade as a young creative and grew it into a company recognized for its distinct visual language and storytelling. His approach blends technical craft with a deeply personal creative vision. As he turns toward feature-length filmmaking, Bennett brings the same curiosity and care that have shaped his career into a new and more expansive form.
