The 2008 Oktoberfest in Bavaria featured its own "wardrobe malfunction" of sorts, as it's becoming increasingly easy to purchase lederhosen and dirndl dresses throughout Munich at a fraction of the former cost.
Unlike traditional garments, these less-expensive duds are made in China, Eastern Europe, or India, or anywhere that charges less for labor and uses cheaper (and certainly not authentic) fabrics and leather. In essence, a massive market for cheap, tacky versions of traditional Bavarian attire has popped up region-wide.
Heavily discounted imports have driven prices down so low that many Bavarian tailors have faced bankruptcy. Today, the number of regional, traditional tailors has been whittled down to fewer than 100 who are still in business.
Are authentic folk costumes worth saving?
via Ashley Thompson, Intelligent Travel
Photo: Shutterfool
Unlike traditional garments, these less-expensive duds are made in China, Eastern Europe, or India, or anywhere that charges less for labor and uses cheaper (and certainly not authentic) fabrics and leather. In essence, a massive market for cheap, tacky versions of traditional Bavarian attire has popped up region-wide.
Heavily discounted imports have driven prices down so low that many Bavarian tailors have faced bankruptcy. Today, the number of regional, traditional tailors has been whittled down to fewer than 100 who are still in business.
Are authentic folk costumes worth saving?
via Ashley Thompson, Intelligent Travel
Photo: Shutterfool
From the Upcoming ueue, submitted by Marilyn Terrell.
Yes because it is part of what identifies a culture.
Maybe they should bring back Volkstrachtenvereine.
I guess the market for quality manufactured clothing/garments is falling to the wayside because of the "disposable society". Why purchase something that may last a long time and is a little more pricey, than something that "if it rips, just go buy a new one because it is cheap."
I would rather have a well made authentic item. They last longer. They can be "let in" or "out" depending on how much you overindulged. And natural fabircs last far much longer and hold up well to everyday use.
As long as they bring the funny!
It was made by one of the big authentic folk costume suppliers in Nuremberg, and quite the breathtaking souvenir in it's day.
But *authentic*? Hardly. The embroidery floss was polyester, the blouse's neck and cuffs were elasticized, and the dress itself was cotton (trying to evoke homespun wool). Oh, did I mention that it closed with a nylon/plastic zipper?
If you want authenticity, it's a DIY hobbyist thing and has been since the 50s, if not earlier. Nobody wants authenticity on a commercial scale anymore; they want plastic zippers.
Prepare to do a lot of guesswork too-- these peasant fashions didn't work off of standardized patterns, and your fabric-greedy Simplicity patterns are almost certainly dead wrong.
If there were only expensively tailored costumes, hardly anyone would wear them anymore, I suppose.
Es ist die Wirtschaft, Dummkopf!
(It's the economy, stupid!)
(What about traditional Chinese costumes? All made in China these days!)
*If you're so smart, why aren't you wearing Lederhosen?*
1. everyone can see if its a fake or not
and 2. real Lederhosen are indestructable. When you're grown up, you need a maximum of 2 Lederhosen for the rest of your life.