In
the 1920s
there was for the last time a new demand for natural straw. Gentlemen's
boater hats (or canotier) were very popular and the Dottikon (Aargau)
company of Fischer & Co. produced the knotted hats (Spitzhüte
or Röhrlihüte) to supply the demand. They were marketed as
Yeddo hats. Today, the knotted hats are still well known in Switzerland.
This was the last time, when straw had particular importance in the Swiss hat industry.
In
1976
the Freiämter Stroh Museum was founded in the town of Wohlen,
Aargau.
In
1988
one of the last hat factories, Merz & Co, in Menziken (Aargau)
closes. In the Freiamt there are still a few hat materials
manufacturers remaining and a few new smaller firms develop in the
following years.
In
1993
the Schweizerische Stiftung Strohverarbeitung is founded.
©
Swiss Foundation for Straw Craft
(Source:
G Rodel, Fahrwangen)
