Tradition, quality and attention to detail are the hallmarks of Hans Frauenschuh GmbH in Kitzbühel.
#LocalHeroes | Matthäus Stern – Timeless craftsmanship from Kitzbühel
Tradition, quality and attention to detail are the hallmarks of Hans Frauenschuh GmbH in Kitzbühel. Matthäus Stern and Elisabeth Frauenschuh run the family business with heart and soul – from chamois-tanned deerskin to handmade dirndls.
Timeless craftsmanship from Kitzbühel
For more than seventy years, the name Hans Frauenschuh has been synonymous in Kitzbühel with craftsmanship deeply rooted in the region. Today, Matthäus Stern, aged 31, runs the long-established business alongside his aunt Elisabeth Frauenschuh, representing the third generation of the family. His grandparents had already laid the foundations in the late 1940s – back then, it was purely a tannery, with no shop or display window. The craft was the focus, and a love of the material was at its heart. It was not until the late 1950s that a small shop, barely larger than a kitchen-diner, opened, where Anna Frauenschuh began selling her first leather goods.
From law student to leather expert
Matthäus Stern is not a trained tanner, yet the craft has become second nature to him. He studied law, almost completing his degree, before gradually working his way into the family business. Today he is responsible for logistics, purchasing and quality control of the hides – particularly the chamois-tanned deerskin, the workshop’s main material. Among other things, this is used to make the famous lederhosen
Dirndl – a labour of love
Dirndls occupy a special place in the collection – they are Elisabeth Frauenschuh’s personal passion project. A bespoke pattern has been designed for them, combining tradition with clean, timeless lines. The fabrics are selected with great care – predominantly from Austrian weavers, complemented by special fabrics from Belgium or America to add subtle accents. Every single piece is made exclusively in Austria, by hand, in small workshops that still practise this craft in its original form.
More than just fashion
The range has grown over the decades – just like the business itself. Since the start of the pandemic, it has also come to include furniture, which Matthäus Stern oversees personally. Yet the philosophy behind it all has remained the same: to create clothing and pieces that will stand the test of time. Matthäus calls it “timeless elegance”. Quality that endures and craftsmanship that tells stories.
Kitzbühel in three words
Matthäus describes Kitzbühel in three words: classic, sophisticated, beautiful nature. A blend that is also reflected in the products – grounded yet cosmopolitan, traditional yet open to new ideas.
