If you spend a lot of time on your feet and want a comfortable but trendy alternative to professional-looking shoes then you must consider flats.
The brands Tieks and Birdies are familiar to you if you follow up with the world of flat shoes. Both brands have gained a reputation for providing extremely comfortable, and trendy shoes, but do they live up to the hype, and which is better?
Here, I will answer everything you need to know before purchasing your ideal pair from them but first, let’s get to know about the brands.
Comparison Table Between Tieks And Birdies:
| Tieks | Birdies |
|---|---|
| Founded in 2008 | Founded in 2015 |
| Well known for Ballets flats | Famous for slipper-like flats |
| Whole size only | Whole and Half size options |
| No sneaker style | Few sneakers styles |
| More supportive | Supportive |
| Highly Cushioned | Cushioned |
| Pricey | Relatively Affordable |
| Versatile enough to wear in different conditions | Best for lounging around home |
| Soft padding around heels | Heel initially feels unpleasant |
Overview of Birdies:
Birdies shoes are made with a passionate commitment to supporting women. They are for your daily challenges, providing reliable comfort and care.
Birdies, founded in 2015 and headquartered in San Francisco, has been constantly promoting its mission ever since.
The brand is the result of everything Bianca Gates and Marisa Sharkey have learned and managed to do. Its collections are based on empathy, careful analysis, and experience.
The brand was launched to help women who were going through similar situations as the founders before the company’s establishment by providing unique and practical shoes that meet their needs.
Birdies feature an outstanding seven-layer cushioning system.
Soft, quilted satin, arch and heel support, dual-layered high-density foam, shock absorption, and memory foam cushioning are just some of the seven layers that go into making a pair of Birdies shoes.
The Starling style is their best-seller with more than 20,000 great reviews online. Customers love how they look like professional flats and that the soft footbed makes it feel like you’re “walking on clouds.”
This women-led company understands your desires and requirements and creates a product to help you reach your goals.
Overview of Tieks:
With a focus on flexibility, longevity, comfort, and fashion, the brand Tieks made ballet flats that are intended to be worn all day.
Kfir and his siblings established the company in 2008, and their shoe collection was released in 2010.
Each pair of Tieks is handcrafted from high-quality Italian leather and comes in a wide range of colors, prints, and patterns to complement a variety of looks and personalities.
The brand offers more than sixty unique styles of ballet flats divided across four categories including Classics, Prints, Patents, and Vegan that offers something to suit every type, event, and wardrobe.
The “Tieks classic series” includes flats in a variety of solid colors, and “Matte Black” is one of their best-sellers.
You can wear this color every day, so these shoes are a better deal and give you value for your money.
Moreover, the brand has a non-profit organization, “Gavrieli Foundation” which has donated more than $10,000,000 to over 55,000 female entrepreneurs across the globe. Also, the brand has an active presence on all social media platforms, and its advertising is generally basic but impressively creative.
Major Differences between the Brands:
Now that you have a basic understanding of the brands, let’s discuss the key points and evaluate which brand may be the best for you.
1) Comfort:
Comfort is the core value of Tieks and Birdies as both brands use exceptional materials in their flats.
Birdies, look classy but also are remarkably comfy because their inner sole is so silky and smooth, and the foam cushioning feels plush. In addition, the seven layers of comfort technology adjust to the curve of your foot, giving these shoes “the support of a sneaker, the softness of a slipper, and the style of a designer flat.”
The only difficulty you may initially have in terms of comfort is a minor rubbing on the heel, which will reduce after a few more wears for longer times.
On the other hand, Tieks have put considerable effort into the comfort of their heels, which is why they have a cushioned back instead of elastic.
Tieks claims that making a pair of their flats involves more than 100 steps, and that’s why they’re so pleasantly comfy. Flexible outsoles, midsoles, insoles, and uppers all work together to fit your foot in a way that is made for you. It is recommended to get the right size of Tieks flats because wearing the wrong size may hurt your feet.
2) Popularity:
Birdies is a rapidly growing brand and its footwear is appreciated by women for home and office wear. Meghan Markle, who has frequently been photographed wearing their shoes, has also contributed to the brand’s rising popularity.
Additionally, Birdies announced in 2022 that it has obtained B Corporation certification and now meets proven requirements for social and environmental sustainability, transparency, and responsibility.
Conversely, Tieks are a popular choice among women who favor flats and have an active lifestyle. The ability to fold and adjust in a handbag makes them excellent for travelers.
Additionally, Forbes recognized Tieks as one of the 25 Most Innovative Consumer Brands in 2013, and the company was included on “Inc.’s 30 Under 30 list” Top 30 Startups “To Watch list by Entrepreneurs” and Oprah’s O List.
3) Target Market:
Tieks offers unisex options but is intended for women in search of a sophisticated substitute for heels. The target age of their clientele is approximately 25 to 45. Whereas, Birdies’ target market is “Women” who appreciate practicality without sacrificing style and want footwear that is versatile to wear indoors and outdoors.
4) Price:
Tieks offers a large selection of ballet flats, starting at $175 and going up to over $300, whereas their flip flops and sandals are for $55- $125.
While Birdies flats and shoes are less expensive than Tieks (which typically retail between $95 to around $165), they still are fairly expensive if you’re not used to shopping for designer footwear.
5) Design:
The design of Tieks flats is stylish, long-lasting, and made of Italian leather. Their blue soles differentiate them from others in the market. Each pair of Tieks features unique split-rubber outsole patches, which allow your feet to move freely without altering your gait. The thick, non-slip rubber is sufficiently resilient to protect your feet from the ground and keep you stable regardless of the surface you’re walking on.
In addition, these flats are more adaptable and made to bend with your natural movements that fit the shape of your feet. This makes them more capable of withstanding the wear and tear of everyday activities which is ideal for women with active lifestyles, such as tourists, mothers, and professionals.
Conversely, Birdies are basically designed as trendy slippers for indoor use, but buyers absolutely adored how comfortable their flats and slides were, so they started wearing them lounging around at home as well as outdoors doing daily activities.
The high-density memory foam in these shoes is covered by a soft, quilted fabric for a cozy feel and the arch support help to absorb shock while you walk. Hence, their comfortable footbed and stylish design make Birdies a must-have for home and workplace wear, but they are not recommended for long walks or travels.
Conclusion: Which Is Better For You?
In terms of styles, popularity, and comfort, Tieks hit the mark for me more than birdies.
Tieks offer more options for ballet flats and they can be worn when traveling and for casual or formal settings. So, consider Tieks if you have room in your budget and want to increase the comfort and longevity of your footwear.
While the slipper-like ease of a pair of “Birdies” makes them ideal for home and office, but not so great if you want shoes for outdoor activities or to wear for extended periods.
Ultimately, your style, budget, and level of comfort will determine which one will be an appropriate choice for you.