An Outline
History of the Straw Industry of Canton Freiburg/Fribourg
In the 1769s
Anton Hartmann, a hat maker from the Alsace-Lorraine comes to Freiburg.
At this time the making of straw hats rather than the making of straw
plait is important.
In
the 1800s
The plaiters in Freiburg have good quality wheat straw from
which they can make high quality plait. They increase their production
of straw plait to supply the hat makers as demand grows.
In
1805
The government of the Freiburg introduces regulations covering straw
plait. In the city of Freiburg there are already some small companies
making straw hats.
1803-1815
The Napoleonic wars benefited export from the neighbouring country of
Switzerland. Straw plaits and even the raw material, straw are exported
to France.
1815
The straw dealers of the Aargau discover the Freiburg wheat straw and
now workers in Freiburg supplies its products to the dealers and
manufacturers.
