BIRKENSTOCK as a Creative Canvas with Sindiso Khumalo and Jessika Balzer Lead Creative Workshops
Childhood Memories in Every Step
For Jessika Balzer of Project Dyad, BIRKENSTOCK isn’t just a shoe, it’s a memory. “Growing up in Germany, my first pair were black patent leather with red polka dots. I remember them stacked by the door or kicked off around the fire” she recalls.
IMAGE: Jessika Balzer of Project Dyad, BIRKENSTOCK
Sindiso Khumalo, London-born and now shaping South African fashion, shares the same fondness: the sandals were part of everyday rituals, small joys that marked seasons and moments.
IMAGE: Sindiso Khumalo, London born creative shaping the South African fashion landscape
An Invitation for Creativity
BIRKENSTOCK invited Cape Town’s creative community to bring those memories into the present and to explore what it means to wear a classic silhouette in a modern, a South African context.
Through two workshops, a decorative accessories session led by Jessika and Sindiso, and a styling session hosted by Sindiso, participants were invited to make a BIRKENSTOCK uniquely their own.
Charms as Storytelling Tools
At the decorating session, guests discovered how versatile a pair of sandals can be. Jessika and Sindiso introduced leather charms inspired by indigenous florals, protea forms, and sun-soaked colour palettes.
Designed to be layered, stacked, and mixed, the charms gave every wearer a chance to tell their own story. Some guests kept it simple with one understated shape, while others built sculptural, layered compositions that reflected a more eclectic, maximalist approach.
The charms were designed so that anyone can tell their own story,” Jessika explains. “We drew directly from Sindiso’s prints, simplifying forms, adapting them for footwear, and crafting them from offcuts to keep it sustainable.” Sindiso adds, “Every BIRKENSTOCK becomes unique because of the wearer; our charms just make that visible.”
Elevating BIRKENSTOCK Through Style
The styling workshop offered a practical lesson in merging creativity with everyday life. Sindiso demonstrated how BIRKENSTOCK could anchor outfits while remaining effortless and playful. From her Collared Black Stripe Dress paired with the Arizona Big Buckle, to the Pulani Gingham Dress with the Arizona Hammered Buckle and an archival jacket-and-skirt set inspired by the University of Cape Town’s Jagger African Studies Library, each look was a lesson in blending comfort, heritage, and colour.
Lessons in Summer Dressing
For Sindiso, summer styling is about ease and expression:
Start with comfort, then layer expression. The sandals are versatile enough to carry you through markets, coastal walks, gallery openings, and sunset dinners.
Dress to your lifestyle. Summer is about family, friends, rest, and joy.
Let colour guide the mood. The charms allow participants to shift tones instantly, from minimal neutrals to sunlit brights to layered maximalism.
More Than Just a Shoe
Across the two workshops, what emerged was a celebration of personal style, local design heritage, and storytelling through objects. BIRKENSTOCK was no longer just a shoe; it became a canvas for creativity, memory, and individual expression. In every charm stacked, every outfit styled, the sandals told a story of summer, collaboration and the creative pulse of South Africa today as we head into the festive season.
