The Freiamt region of Aargau is famous for its straw culture. The craft of straw weaving is thought to have been brought to Switzerland by mercenaries from Italy in the 16th century. Over the following centuries, Freiamt developed into an important centre for straw weaving and hat making in Switzerland. Straw, this humble natural material, was the basis of a thriving industry for two centuries. What began as a rural craft practised at home at the end of the 16th century gradually developed into early industrial mass production in the 19th century. The so-called ‘straw barons’ of the time exported various hat models and the famous ‘Freiämter Garnituren’ (Freiämter sets) all over the world. Regional patterns were closely guarded and passed down through several generations. In the last quarter of the 20th century, the hat weaving industry experienced its decline.
Thanks to many dedicated straw weavers who continued to work from home, straw weaving has not been forgotten. Straw is still woven today. The broad knowledge of straw processing is being revived and passed on. The Swiss Straw Museum in Wohlen, the stroh-in-form association and the Swiss Straw Foundation contribute to the preservation and further development of the tradition of artisanal straw weaving.
