SPORTALM
fall/winter 2009/10


A dress with working class roots

On 20th and 21st January 2008 the Austrian label Sportalm presented the new women's wear collection during the 'Tracht & Country Premiere 2009' in Salzburg, Austria.

The fashion fair 'Tracht & Country' selects each season from Austria, Germany, Switzerland and South Tyrol the most trendy labels for traditional, authentic clothing. Sportalm, Meindl, Mellmax, Mothwurf, Schneiders, Steinbock, Trenker and Wallmann have presented their new fashion together on a catwalk over the roofs of Salzburg.

The 8 labels have one in common: the designers are developing contemporary fashion with the knowledge of old traditions for manufacturing original fabrics such as waxed linen for the voluminous skirts which are often pleated, printed with roses... or loden (very durable wool) for jackets and hats. The designers are working with old and new techniques. The patterns of the pieces are often refined ones from the 18th and 19th century.

Trends 2009/10

For 2009/10 the 8 labels focused on following trends: Rouge & Noir with sparkling crystals on the corsage for classic dirndls, earthy colors for pants, jackets, coats; various tones of lilac for the sportive combination with jeans; provocing checks for the urban look; a lot of hats in perfect combination to jackets and coats...

fig.: Sportalm Fall/Winter 2009/10 on the terrace over the roofs of Salzburg. Photo: Reed Exhibitions Messe Salzburg/ Andreas Kolarik

Working Class Roots

These dresses consist of layering a skirt with a corsage over a shirt. On two of these dresses (image below) you can find a panel in a contrasting color bonded over the skirt; what looks today like decoration protected in former times the skirt. The name of the dress is 'dirndl' and has 'working class' roots; thanks to these roots the dress is still practical.

At the end of the 1780ies French queen Marie Antoinette, called the 'Austrian', loved to wear the 'peasant-look' (Marie Antoinette à la paysan http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Marie_Antoinette_à_la_paysan.jpg; peasants have been in these times the working class) - unfortunately she only followed the fashion ideas and not the philosophy of enlightment, the source for the trend of practical clothing; 1793 Marie Antoinette lost her head... Check out more dirndls at Sportalm www.sportalm.at.


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