Popular sandal maker Birkenstock has released its latest summer campaign – starring an animated felt nun.
The tiny holy sister represents a long-running affiliation between nuns, monks, and the classic shoe brand. Birkenstocks are known for their simplistic style and durability, making them a popular choice to be paired with a habit.
The advert is a nod to their 1980s ad ‘Get into the habit’, which featured a row of smiling nuns wearing the sandals – but also represents a modern trend.
The notion of a "nun girl summer" has gained traction on social media this year, after a convent in Michigan found unlikely fame through their life and faith podcast, Dominican Sisters Open Mic.
TikTok videos of the sisters discussing what they gave up for lent, games of Ultimate Frisbee, and the phrase "Sister, you are so good at that," have become a hit with Gen Z women.
Birkenstock's ad appears to, likewise, be appealing to those seeking simplicity in an era of endless scrolling and quick dopamine fixes. Commenters described it as "the cutest thing I've ever seen," and praised the brand's use of a real stop-motion artist - rather than artificial intelligence - to bring the animation to life.
"Actual nun here," read another comment. "I live in the pair that I have, but they’re definitely in need of replacing... any discount for nuns?"