29 September 2025  From Congress-Era Elegance to Today's CraftThe tradition of Wiener Mode traces back to the early 19th century, when the city's artisans gained international attention during the Vienna Congress. With their meticulous tailoring, use of fine fabrics, and inspiration drawn from aristocratic dress, military uniforms, and folk costume, they developed a distinct signature style. While fashion capitals shifted over the centuries, the foundation of craft never left Vienna. Many dressmakers, milliners, and jewelers continue to work for local clients, often running their own small ateliers.MODE WIEN in the Guild's Historic HallsFrom 2 to 4 October 2025, the event MODE WIEN "EN SUITE" will present around twenty designers and craftspeople at the Guild of Fashion and Clothing Technology (Fütterergasse 1, 2nd floor, Vienna's city center). The format allows visitors to purchase garments, hats, and jewelry directly from the makers. Organized under the leadership of Innungsmeisterin Patrizia Markus, the initiative highlights independent creators who shape the city's contemporary fashion landscape. On the Instagram of MODE WIEN, preview clips already introduce the participants through short videos showing garments in motion.Textile Narratives and Tailoring HeritageAmong the showcased talents is Dora Strasser, who works under the label dare2digressarts. Strasser describes her creations as "analog-digital confessions of textile ornamentation," combining references from nature, art, and language. Her practice bridges fine art, textile craft, and digital design, drawing on influences from the Viennese Modernism and the Pattern & Decoration movement. With an academic background in art history, linguistics, and design studies in Chicago, Québec, London, and Vienna, she transforms wall hangings into wearable art, ensuring sustainability through the use of certified fabrics and resource-conscious production. Her pieces invite reflection while offering tactile elegance.Equally rooted in craftsmanship is Markus Spatzier, founder of M.SPATZiER. Based in Vienna, he translates tailoring traditions into contemporary design, often balancing structure and fluidity in his silhouettes. His work is shaped by an awareness of heritage and modernity, resulting in garments that are at once classic and innovative. On the MODE WIEN Instagram, his contribution appears as an elegant dress in checked fabric, arranged in a strikingly creative cut. Other participants include couture designers, milliners such as Hattitude by Christina Lichy, and jewelry labels including Nil Manel and Bana Schmuck. Each brings a personal vocabulary, but all are united by a commitment to quality and individuality. A Continuing Signature of ViennaThe event underlines how Vienna's fashion identity has remained intact despite shifts in global trends. Once recognized as a hallmark of quality, Wiener Mode today continues to merge tailoring, craftsmanship, design, and art. From contemporary ready-to-wear to the city's famed ball gowns—still often commissioned from guild-affiliated ateliers—the tradition of excellence lives on, evolving yet unmistakably Viennese.As part of the guild's wider program, several tapestries by Andrea Muliar will be exhibited from 4 October 2025 at the MODE WIEN Museum, in cooperation with Vienna fashion creators. The presentation is part of the ORF Long Night of Museums and underscores the diversity of the guild's cultural initiatives. Further details can be found on modewien.at. Image: A modern, pastel-colored landscape graphic combining symbols of Viennese fashion crafts and the city skyline. Scissors, a needle with thread, a fabric roll, a hat silhouette, and a jewelry gem are arranged in a clean, minimalist style. Behind them, a light outline of Vienna’s St. Stephen’s Cathedral and soft architectural contours evoke the city. The overall mood is bright and optimistic, with soft gradients and airy spacing. Photo: © Fashion.at generated with ChatGPT |