Discover Germany | Special Theme | Bern City Special
Accessories with a twist Swiss design talent Sabina Brägger recycles left-overs to create new purses, bags, belts and watch bracelets for men and women. Here, she explains how this innovative idea came about. “All of this started while I was studying for my Bachelor’s degree,” remembers Brägger. “At that time, I realised that classic textile design wasn’t necessarily the right choice for me. Instead, I was keen to create something on my own, something completely new.” So, the young designer learnt everything about the various sustainable uses of production remnants and soon discovered that leather can be made from fish skin. Motivated and inspired, Brägger contacted Tropenhaus Frutigen, a local fish farm in Bern. Equally fascinated by this idea, the company has supported Sabina Brägger ever since. Today, Sabina Brägger offers several different services. “I’m always on the lookout for suitable residual material, which I can work into my product designs,” she says. “I also offer these materials
to other companies for the purpose of a cooperation. Examples include the Luzern-based watchmaking company ochs und junior, for which I produce watch bracelets from 100 per cent sturgeon leather.” Brägger, who revealed that an English version of her website is currently
Regionality at its best
TEXT: SONJA IRANI I PHOTOS: SABINA BRÄGGER
in the making, also creates her own design collections from versatile materials of all kinds. “Finally, I get requests from people and companies to process their left-over materials,” she explains. “This also works the other way round. When someone doesn’t yet have the right material, I search and find suitable left-overs for them.” www.sabinabraegger.ch
TEXT: NANE STEINHOFF
Visitors who head to Langnau in Switzerland’s Emmental can look forward to one of the largest existing museums with local history collections. Situated in an exceptionally preserved building from 1526, the regional museum Chüechlihus not only impresses with its special ambiance, but also with diverse exhibitions. “We distinguish ourselves from other regional museums with our size, as well as our collection’s comprehensiveness. Amongst the small museums, we are one of the biggest. In over 25 rooms, we present more than 20 topics and each year, a temporary special exhibition is brought to life,” notes Madeleine Ryser, museum director. Founded in 1930, the museum was established to give a voice to the Langnau region, an economic and cultural centre of the upper Emmental. Thus, the museum today deals with the rich local history, regional personalities, as well as with the population. For example, visitors can look forward to one of the largest Langnau ceramics collections – high-quality farmer ceramics from the 18th and 19th century. 30 | Issue 41 | August 2016
Ryser says: “The collections cover many interest areas so that the rich history and culture can be holistically experienced.” She adds: “The combination of the Chüechlihus’s sophistication, carefully designed exhibitions and the staff’s friendliness and expertise exudes high quality and competence. Visitors especially enjoy the museum tours which we also offer in English and French, as well as the written guides in three languages.” After an exciting day, a small courtyard with a garden offers coffee and for pre-booked groups, concerts and other events, the Chüechlihus also offers ‘Chüechli’ (fried dough foods) and other refreshments. www.regionalmuseum-langnau.ch
Top: The regional museum Langnau at the Bärenplatz. Photo: Jan Ryser, © Regionalmuseum Langnau Below: High-quality Langnau ceramics. Photo: Hans Wüthrich, © Regionalmuseum Langnau