FOR YOU

ALPENHERZ –
A dirndl
AS UNIQUE AS YOU ARE
„AlpenHerz“ is the name of the
dirndl label founded in 2011 by
Sandra Abt and Verena Bub.
What initially started as a small designer dirndl studio
for friends, has now become a fixed entity on the market
for exclusive designer dirndl collections, bridal and
couture dresses.
Now VIPs are using the dirndl from AlpenHerz and
even inquiries from abroad have become common
place. In the interview, the AlpenHerz designer
Sandra Abt tells us more about the creation of her
dirndl manufactory and the costume trends for the
coming season.
KLAPP: How did you come up with the idea for the
label AlpenHerz and how did you develop it?
My business partner and I have been wearing dirndls
for a long time and have always been on the lookout for
something special. Away from the mainstream and away
from the thought of wearing the same dress as many
others at an event. Verena, who has been an ambitious
tailor for all her life, took specific costume tailor courses to
specialize in this area. We then created our first personal
pieces and it was not long until we got more and more
requests from other people.
Then we pretty quickly founded our own partnership
under the name AlpenHerz, because this name represents
our home at the edge of the Alps, as well as the
commitment (from our heart) which we invest into all pieces
of clothing designed by us. Finding a name was thus
fairly easy. It also didn‘t take long and we both resigned
from our original jobs, I as marketing manager at the BMW
headquarters in Munich and Verena as a graphic designer
in an advertising agency, to follow our dream „AlpenHerz“.
KLAPP: In your opinion, what distinguishes a good
dirndl?
A dirndl must fit well and make a good figure, but it is also
important to advise the customer on which dirndl is best
for her. Sometimes we see dirndls which simply do not fit
the customer. That is a shame, because a well-fitting dirndl
looks good on every woman. The waist and cleavage are
emphasized, the skirt swings gently and its length can be
adjusted to the taste of the customer. The key factor is
the manufacture, which usually marks the difference and
also sets the price. Many cheap dirndl producers pass
on important and beautiful details such as piped seams,
corset chopsticks and underskirts for reasons of cost, not
to mention the poor material and ingredient quality.
KLAPP: Where do you source your materials?
The upper fabrics for the dirndl are exclusively sourced
from Germany and Austria. The lace fabrics come from
nearby European countries such as France, England,
Spain.
For the ladies and men coats and waistcoats, we source
the loden from 2 renowned old loden manufacturers from
Germany, and the velvet fabrics from Italy.
The good quality of the materials and ingredients is very
close to our heart, and especially in the costumes area
we rely here on renowned companies that specialize in
this area.
KLAPP: Which is your favorite style?
That is a difficult question. We put a lot of thought into
each individual model and design them all the way we
would like to wear them. My personal highlights are
particularly in the Couture line, which allows us to be more
creative. From our new collection Summer/Autumn 2014,
which will be available in our store and online from June
onwards, I particularly like the high-collar dirndl with the
fine embroidered pure silk bodice.
KLAPP: Thank you for the interview.
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