The blue printing workshop in Steinberg revives the old craft. With great commitment and passion, blue printing today experiences a kind of renaissance. As the name implies, it is not printed in blue, but dyed. Printing is done with old models and stencils. These wooden forms, carved from lime or birch, are up to 200 years old. The stencil provides the typical pattern on the fabrics and is a well-guarded secret of the family. After printing, the fabric is dyed, but first, it must dry for about three weeks. The vat dyes the fabric, which can take up to four hours depending on the shade. Afterwards, the stencil is washed out and the fabrics are dried outside.
In the past, blue-printed fabrics were worn as everyday and work clothing. Blue printing was an essential part of Burgenland's everyday culture. However, due to the labor-intensive process of blue printing, only a few workshops have survived. In Austria, there are now only two blue printing families left. To preserve this traditional craft, indigo blue printing was added to the UNESCO list of "Intangible Cultural Heritage of Austria" in 2010. Since 2018, this rare craft has been part of the intangible UNESCO World Heritage.
A specialty of the house is the so-called double prints, where different patterns are visible on the front and back of the fabric. These individual pieces are more popular today than ever. Aprons, masks, and dirndls are adorned with fabrics typical of Burgenland. More and more people are discovering the cultural value of this uniqueness. Each piece is filled with a great deal of passion and handcrafted effort. Guided tours of one of the last blue printing workshops in Europe can be arranged with the Koó family at any time.
Free entry and 5% discount on a purchase from € 30,- with the Burgenland Card.