Birkenstock: Old Mills Never Die

Celebrating 250 years of family tradition in shoemaking, Old Mills Never Die explores the past, present and future of one of the world’s most remarkable and democratic footwear brands.

From dedicated customers who buy and re-buy their beloved shoes throughout their lives to collaborations with luxury houses such as Dior and Valentino, 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 photographs the little-known treasures of Birkenstock’s archive. In “Factories” Werner Bartsch documents some of the Birkenstock works and their over 6,000 employees who combine the most advanced production technology with traditions of hand craftsmanship. Juergen Teller captures Birkenstocks as the ultimate fashion object on the feet of everyday people in “Golborne Road.” “Graphic Designer” reveals the pioneering graphic art and typography of Carl Birkenstock (1900–82). Finally, the “Book of Birkenstock” is an ambitious timeline of the company from 1774 till 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.”