The desire for traditional costumes returns: tailors and shops are happy about the increasing demand

Created: 04/21/2022, 07:00

The last time people celebrated in traditional costume was in 2019 at the Erding Autumn Festival.

Because folk festivals are now taking place again, the demand for traditional costumes is likely to increase.

© Thomas Obermeier

In the past two years of the corona pandemic, the demand for traditional fashion has been low in Erding.

But that is slowly changing now.

Erding – Finally folk festivals again: Showmen and hosts have been waiting for this for a long time.

But traditional costume shops also had to struggle during the Corona period, especially since weddings and family celebrations often couldn’t take place either.

But tailors and traditional costume shops currently have cause for hope.

Sabine Deml from "Shedoes Tracht" in Dorfen is a fashion designer.

The past two years have also been difficult for her due to the cancellation of many festivals: “I designed a lot of dirndl skirts and blouses during that time.

In general, traditional costumes that can be integrated into everyday life are popular at the moment,” she explains.

Dirndl tailor fully booked until autumn

Tailor Monika Heinemann makes dirndls especially for weddings.

It is fully booked until September.

© derkranich.com

Monika Heinemann from "Dirndlpoesie" in Erding has recently mainly made wedding dirndl for civil weddings.

Here, too, most of the customers wanted traditional costumes that they could later wear with a different blouse or apron to celebrate.

"This is very much in line with my desire for sustainability in traditional fashion," says the self-employed woman from Erding happily and says: "Very few of my wedding dirndls are white.

The most popular colors are blue and green, so that the bride and groom can be married in the same colors and the dirndl can later be changed.”

Heinemann also gets the feeling that many weddings can finally be celebrated this year.

The solo self-employed woman sews all dirndls herself and is fully booked until September.

"However, I rarely have orders for 'normal' occasions such as folk festivals."

Many customers are still unsure about Corona when buying a dirndl

Deml can also sing a song about this: “People are still very cautious.

Many seem to be afraid of being canceled at short notice and prefer to wear an old dirndl.

But I can imagine that this will change after the first folk festivals.

Then most of them probably want something new.”

The designer designs the costumes for her customers and commissions tailors and seamstresses from the district to make them.

She sees a trend in puffed sleeves - for blouses, sometimes also for dirndls.

In general, classics are very popular.

Heinemann confirms this: "At the moment there is less glitter and chic, but more traditional fashion."

After two years of pandemic, there is now a clear upswing in Erdinger traditional costume shops

Dominik Krabichler from “Buamagwand” also notes a trend towards simpler fashion.

In addition to shades of green and yellow, he also offers a darker olive and blue.

According to Krabichler, the made-to-measure and custom-made leather pants are particularly often ordered for weddings.

According to the family business from Moosinning, there were fewer orders here during the Corona years.

"But this year is significantly better than the last two," says Krabichler happily, "even if fewer orders came in the first two to three weeks after the outbreak of the Ukraine war.

But that has returned to normal, also due to the prospect of Maibaumstüberl and folk festivals.

It remains to be seen whether sales will return to the level before Corona.”

Sustainability is also an important topic for traditional costumes

Barbara Gruber from the Gewandhaus Gruber also reports difficulties: “Village festivals and larger family celebrations fell victim to Corona, there was less demand for traditional costumes overall.” They are usually bought on an occasional basis.

For Gruber, however, there is a ray of hope in sight: "Uncertainty has prevailed so far, but customers are already curious about the new fashion." and folk festivals.

The Gewandhaus boss is also looking forward to the sale of high-quality traditional costumes.

Sustainability counts here too: the traditional costume is becoming more durable.

“Overall, the trend is more craftsmanship.

Mass-produced goods have been out for a long time,” says Gruber.

There are also fewer trend colors, the classics are blue, olive and fir.

When it comes to shapes, high V-necks are still fashionable, and the 75 to 80 length is also becoming increasingly popular with young women.

"The general rule is: Less, but sophisticated in design, more valuable in processing and all in all of particular beauty."

BY VERENA PIRSCHLINGER

Erding newsletter: Everything from your region!

Our Erding newsletter informs you regularly about all the important stories from the Erding region - including all the news about the Corona crisis in your community.

Sign up here.