The story

I grew up in the seventies in Austria where most children wore Waldjankers. What the heck is that? A Waldjanker is a jacket made of boiled wool. It came in primary colors, with two pockets and silver buttons. Back then it was scratchy — needless to say — no kid liked it, so I forgot about it for 25 years.

After college in California, I moved back to Austria for a few years. I did not have a coat for my first Austrian winter, so I wore my ski down jacket, which was great for the outdoors, but as soon as I stepped indoors, I felt like ripping that thing of off me to prevent death by heat stroke or disgust by a sweat bath.

A friend took pity on me and suggested a coat made out of boiled wool. That scratchy piece of memory from our childhood? I was surprised they still made that. She insured me, that it is now much softer and quite comfortable.

She was right. I could not believe how this coat self regulated my body temperature. I was not cold in the wind. I was not hot in the stores. Gasthaus smells, nor cigarette smoke from the Kaffeehäuser clung to the material, they would dissipate during my walk home. It never wrinkled nor stained. Because of its stain resistance, Mothers dress their little monsters in onesies made out of boiled wool.

As a Montana boy, my boyfriend Rob longed for fresh air and wide open spaces, just like me. Heck, let’s move to Montana. We found a house next to his parents — close but far enough. I was amazed how much I liked living in a rural town. Without interruptions, my creative juices were flowing.

However, the quick trips to get pillows, or curtains was no longer available. Missoula is an hour away. Kicked by the need of sufficiency, I borrowed my boyfriend’s mom’s 1974 Bernina sewing machine, ordered fabric online and went to work. Pillow covers followed deck chair cushions, followed napkins. I then graduated to summer dresses and shirts and finally made a coat out of boiled wool for the winter.

People wanted to touch it, feel it, see it up close. Women came up to me in restaurants or ran over streets to inquire about it (just you wait, this will happen to you too). The wheels in the business side of my brain started turning. If people like the coat so much, maybe I should make more? I got a booth at the Hamilton Farmers market, just to try it out. One season and 127 coats later, I had a fast growing business, I could no longer afford to deny.

Boiled wool originated in Austria. Just like me. I love to work with this material and I hope you will enjoy my coats. Thank you for your support and your kind words. I can’t wait to see what comes next!

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