Among the various Swiss textile traditions, textile printing from Canton Glarus made a name for itself early on. This tradition stills exists today in a vibrant culture of remembrance, via witnesses of the architectural past and innovative approaches by textile artists and fashion designers. There are a large number of patterns that have been developed in Glarus and influenced by global textile traditions. They are now housed in places such as private archives, the Glarner Wirtschaftsarchiv and the Museum des Landes Glarus. These cost-effective imitations were printed on cotton and came into circulation in the 18th century, together with countless competing products from England, France and Holland in an emerging global market.
Today, patterns and scarves from Glarus point to a past with ups and downs that is often told as a story of pioneering and success. The second half of the 19th century, known by locals as an era of economic miracles, still shapes the self-image of Glarus to this day. For several generations now, the people of Glarus have identified with this industry, which has brought considerable prosperity to their valley. The “Glarnertüechli” – handkerchiefs known today as bandanas – have become known far and wide as a symbol of Glarus. Its boteh pattern appears in all conceivable colours on dishes, bottles, debit cards and just about every other possible item – a reminder of an over 250-year-old piece of cultural history that lives on to this day.
