Immerse yourself in a rich history.
A journey back in time.
Remnants of cloth found in ancient Egyptian burial chambers prove that weaving is one of mankind’s oldest crafts. Although the history of weaving in the Wupper valley doesn’t stretch back quite this far, the Duchy of Berg awarded the towns of Barmen and Elberfeld the monopoly to bleach and sell yarns in as early as 1527.
Bleachers, dyers, weaving mills and machine factories were established in the region during this period and the textile production in this densely populated area developed to become the driving force of the industrialization in the 19th century. Up to 80 percent of the population lived from the weaving trade.
