Textile Museum St. Gallen: A Stitch in Time

The Textile Museum St. Gallen, located in the "Palazzo Rosso" since 1886, is a vibrant testament to the city's deep-rooted connection to textiles. Founded in 1878, the museum houses one of Switzerland's most important textile collections, with woven materials and embroideries from every corner of the globe. The museum's collections date back to the second half of the 19th century, inspired by museums of applied arts and design throughout Europe, aiming to inspire industry and cultivate good taste. The museum's extensive collection includes fabrics from Egyptian grave sites, historical embroideries from the 14th century onwards, handmade lace, ethnographic textiles, and contemporary textile art. A highlight is the collection of hand and machine embroidery from Eastern Switzerland, documenting the development of the St. Gallen embroidery industry. The Textile Library within the museum holds over 2,000 sample books with textile patterns from Swiss companies. St. Gallen has been known for producing quality textiles since the 15th century. By 1910, the city's embroidery production was a major export for Switzerland, producing over 50% of the world's embroidery. Today, St. Gallen textiles remain popular in haute couture. The museum not only displays historical exhibits but also keeps up with the present, showcasing fabrics used by leading fashion houses like Dior, Gucci, and Prada. The museum hosts temporary exhibitions that complement the permanent exhibition on the history of textiles in Eastern Switzerland.