Steidl Old Mills Never Die

On 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. From dedicated customers who buy and re-buy their beloved shoes throughout their lives to collaborations with luxury houses such as Dior, Rick Owens 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 four 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” Werner Bartsch documents some of the people and places 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 the feet of people from everyday life in “Golborne Road.” Finally, “Graphic Designer” explores the pioneering graphic art and typological approach of Carl Birkenstock (1900–82). 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.”