Old Mills Never Die

Five approaches to the history of the iconic German footwear brand, including three photobooks by Juergen Teller, Henry Leutwyler and Werner Bartsch

In commemoration of the 250th anniversary of Birkenstock, Old Mills Never Die celebrates the past, present and future of one of the world’s most remarkable and democratic footwear brands. Birkenstock both sets and transcends trends, offering something for everyone—and for everyone the same: quality, comfort and sustainability.
Old Mills Never Die comprises five books of varied size and design, each reflecting a different aspect of the Birkenstock universe. In Walk This Way Henry Leutwyler reveals the little-known treasures of Birkenstock’s archive, his photographs drawing out the characters of the still-life objects. In Factories: Made in Germany Werner Bartsch documents some of the people that define Birkenstock today: the over 6,000 employees who combine the most advanced production technology with traditions of hand craftsmanship unchanged over decades. Juergen Teller, in his trademark subversive and ironic style, captures Birkenstocks as the ultimate fashion object in editorial shoots and on everyday people in Golborne Road. Graphic Designer explores the pioneering graphic art and typological approach of Carl Birkenstock (1900–82). Finally, The Book of Birkenstock is an ambitious timeline of the company from 1774 until today. Wrapped in a Furoshiki cloth and packed in a wooden box, Old Mills Never Die is the first publication to comprehensively present Birkenstock’s ongoing story and place in cultural history—in its own words, “often copied, never equaled.”