16 December 2025

Falling Riders Motif on Luxury Bag by Sebastian Kelemer – Auction for Charity at Parallel Vienna

For those seeking a distinctive holiday gift that combines style with social impact, an ongoing auction offers a rare opportunity. Ludwig Reiter, the renowned Austrian luxury shoe label founded in 1885 by Ludwig Reiter I and his wife Anna in Vienna, has a rich heritage spanning five generations. Known for mastering Goodyear-welted construction since 1909, the family-run manufactory preserves traditional handcrafting techniques while producing timeless, anatomical designs. Today globally active with stores in Europe and products sold in countries including Japan and the USA, it has collaborated with designers like Helmut Lang and supplied footwear for films such as Inglourious Basterds.

Sebastian Kelemer: Playful Contemporary Art from Vienna

This collaboration features Viennese contemporary artist Sebastian Kelemer, whose playful, experimental works often explore routine, humor, and motion through mixed media, drawings, and installations. Frequently exhibited at Parallel Vienna and galleries like Jan Arnold, Kelemer transformed the brand's iconic minimalist unisex tool bag – crafted from bark-tanned Juchten leather in marron – into an artistic statement. Using cross and straight stitches directly on the leather, he depicted a humorous scene of falling riders, titled Die reitenden Ludwige, die nicht reiten können – einer schon gar nicht! (translated: "The riding Ludwigs who cannot ride – one of them especially so!").

The Auction Piece and Its Charitable Impact

The unique bag is being auctioned on the Parallel Vienna website until December 22, 2025, with all proceeds going to Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders). Parallel Vienna, an innovative art fair known for site-specific projects, extends beyond the Austrian capital – as demonstrated by its recent edition in Paris (Prequel Paris, October 2025). Next year's main event is scheduled for September 16–20, 2026, at the Otto-Wagner-Areal in Vienna.

Fashion.at Shopping Tip: This piece not only showcases exceptional craftsmanship but also supports humanitarian efforts, making it a thoughtful choice for art and fashion enthusiasts.