17 April 2023

Seen at the sustainability fair WeFair in Vienna: Wood-leather bags by Holzleder, designed and produced in Lower Austria

Yesterday in the afternoon, Fashion.at publisher Karin Sawetz visited the sustainability fair WeFair. The fair started in 2008 as an annual event in Linz, Upper Austria under the name WearFair. This year the fair took place for the first time in Vienna. More than 180 exhibitors with a focus on fair and sustainably produced goods from areas such as fashion, organic food, cosmetics or jewelry presented their products for three days from 14 to 16 April in the Marx Halle. Street food gastronomers served dishes like vegan and veggie wraps and beverages such as beer, wine and organic fruit drinks.

The exhibitors at the fair were selected by a professional jury to prevent greenwashing. One of the businesses that passed the quality check is the wood-leather label 'Holzleder', a patented brand of the creation and production company 2g8er from Theresienfeld in Lower Austria. The company 2g8er (together) was founded by Rupert Stockinger in 2016 for collaborative projects with designers, artists and experts from different industries. In an interview with Fashion.at's Karin Sawetz, Rupert Stockinger talked about his company and the production in Lower Austria, which he started after his studies of computing and strategic marketing in the UK, fashion, experience and design management studies in Italy and jobs like product management for Red Bull Mobile at A1 Telekom Austria.

In 2016, 2g8er experimented with wood fibers and glued them together with rubber for the production of wood-leather. In the beginning, Stockinger used the press of a tractor from the farm where the company was located to compound the layers to the desired quality of wood-leather for bags. Over the years, the production process was refined and with the growing interest in the bags, the cooperation with partners was expanded. When asked if the material is durable, Rupert Stockinger showed off his own wallet, which he has been using since 2016. The surface of the wooden material has become soft and smooth over the years, comparable to how leather ages. The bags and accessories designed and produced in Lower Austria are sold nowadays in retail stores and online throughout Europe. When asked for the currently best-selling bag, Rupert Stockinger pointed to the bag he wore as a cross body bag, the Fanny Bag.

Image: Rupert Stockinger, founder of the creation and production company 2g8er and the brand 'Holzleder' on 16 April 2023 at the sustainability fair 'WeFair' at the Marx Halle in Vienna.