Ribbon Weavers Museum

Old hat? Nothing of the sort - a ribbon makes its way out into the world. Hat makers around the world once used fine ribbons from the small town of Ronsdorf to add some glamour to their creations. Go on a search for clues and discover in the Ribbon Weaving Museum how a whole village once made a living from ribbon.

Ribbon weaving was the main occupation in Ronsdorf from its establishment in 1745. Around 1900, there were 2,000 looms or so for the 13,299 people living here. So it’s not surprising that the skilfully produced textiles quickly became a top export. Even today, people talk about the town’s heyday. One of many anecdotes is that anyone who has raised a Panama hat in Chile or a fedora in Melbourne in a gesture of greeting will certainly have touched a hat ribbon from Ronsdorf.

Exciting facts about ribbon production

Take a deep dive into the world of ribbon weaving and look over the shoulders of the experts from the Ronsdorf local history and residents’ association as the shuttles dance and the spools turn. Traditional devices are on display – from a manual loom to an electric ribbon loom, and a Jacquard loom to a modern ribbon weaving machine. The exhibits on display in the Ribbon Weavers Museum as well as the accessories and the actual production processes are described in more detail on information boards.