Birkenstocks are not works of art, court rules

But the company’s revenue chart paints a pretty picture, as sales rose again in Q1.

2/21/25 11:03AM

Some controversial “ugly” shoes are making strides in the comfort over style space. UGGs are back in fashion, with the TikTok-viral Tasman slippers routinely selling out, and just last week, Crocs switched back into sports mode, with its stock surging 24% after a sales bump.

But it’s Birkenstock, the centuries-old shoemaker known for its buckled sandals and Boston clogs, that’s now making headlines. On Thursday, Germany’s top court ruled that Birkenstock’s distinct orthopedic designs are not, despite the company’s best arguments, works of art.

The ruling culminates a long legal battle, with Birkenstock first attempting to gain copyright protections to prevent copycat brands from selling similar products back in May 2023. Still, the court said that the shoes exhibited “pure craftsmanship using formal design elements” — and a glowing quarterly earnings report, also released yesterday, suggests that a growing number of sandal enthusiasts agree.

Buckle up

Birkenstock’s revenue was up 19% year on year to €362 million ($379 million) in Q1 FY25, beating expectations off the back of a strong holiday period; however, the company’s shares dipped yesterday and are down a further 2% this morning, as investors remain cautious about the cost of the brand’s aggressive expansion plan into the Asian market squeezing annual margins.

Still, if the past decade is anything to go by, the Birkenstock boom will march forward. Indeed, in 2024, Birkenstock’s revenue grew 21%, boosted by its high-end 1774 category that featured collaborations with designers like Manolo Blahnik and Rick Owens, along with a hot pink cameo in “Barbie” (2023).

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JetBlue is raising its bag fees as fuel costs squeeze airlines

JetBlue will reportedly hike its bag fees, as the cost of jet fuel continues to climb amid the war in Iran. It’s the latest example of carriers finding ways to push rising costs onto travelers.

Last week, United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said that if fuel prices remain elevated, fares would need to rise another 20% for his airline to break even this year.

As CNBC reported, when one airline raises fees, others tend to follow.

Earlier this month, JetBlue hiked its first-quarter outlook for operating revenue per seat mile to between 5% and 7%, saying that strong Q1 demand helped “partially offset additional expenses realized from operational disruptions and rising fuel costs.” Now, the carrier appears to be making moves to further boost revenue to offset those costs.

Earlier on Monday, JetBlue rival Alaska Air lowered its Q1 profit forecast. The refining margins for the carrier’s cheapest fuel option — sourced from Singapore and representing about 20% of Alaska’s overall supply — have spiked 400% since February.

JetBlue did not immediately respond to a request for comment.