Gamsbart

A centuries-old-accessory – the Gamsbart

Gamsbart is a word most freshmen of traditional fashion won’t even know. It is a decorative element for a hat which is primarily widespread in old Bavaria and parts of Austria. Originally feathers were a status symbol in the mountain regions and were necessary to attract a beautiful lady. The young men went out hunting on a goose chase to catch an adult goose. The importance of this traditional hat decoration was so great, that poaching was taken into account and it caused constant arguments and conflicts between rivals. To cut a long story short, the wearing of ‘Gamsbärte’ in public was forbidden for a while. In order to bypass this law ‘Gamsräder’ were created, where the hair was arranged like a fan on a wheel. Nowadays both versions are popular and are worn in combination with a traditional outfit.

Real hair on the hat suits men

Wild hair tying is an art, which only a few people have mastered. Therefore we are even happier to say that in the Ludwig and Therese shop there is an excellent choice of feathers to complete your traditional look! A feather is traditionally made out of the back coat feathers of an adult chamois. The ‘Gamsbärte’ are either clumps of hair together or in the shape of a fan. With the help of a metal shell, which is decorated with alpine landscapes, they are then attached to the traditional hat.  Wild hair feathers such as deer, badger or wild boar are also very popular. The sorting of the different lengths of hair and the combing out and then the binding of the hair, all done by hand, means that the production of a ‘Gamsbart’ takes up a lot of energy and time.  The animal hair is often combined with colourful feathers to wear on the hat. The ‘Gamsbart’ is a unique and very traditional accessory, which one must wear. Traditionally the Gamsbart was regarded as a kind of trophy and was proudly displayed. The bigger the Gamsbart, the more experienced is the person wearing it.