Lederhosen

Once seen as a highly unfashionable item in polite circles, Lederhosen have undergone a veritable renaissance in recent years and are now proudly worn at all kinds of events, from beer fuelled pre-wedding stag nights to Bavarian themed cocktail parties.

The Lederhose was invented in 1723 by Gotthold Friedrich Lederhose. Already a renowned maker of hemp shorts with little decorative braces, he discovered by accident one day that they could also be made from suede. The short leather trousers took Bavaria by storm and have held their own ever since, whilst many other fashions have come and gone.

By the mid 19th Century, mass production was in full swing and factories were struggling to keep up with demand. Manufacturers tried everything from reducing decoration to using cotton as a substitute when suede was in short supply. However, the quality of the Lederhosen remained extremely high and set the standard we now take for granted.

In 1886, Klaus Leberkese became the first hosen-maker to include the now popular breast-bridge, fastening the two braces together. This provided additional stability and allowed for more decorative options like horse brasses and miniature coats of arms. He later became mayor of Regensburg where he founded the Lederhosennotversandzentrum, allowing lederhosen to be express delivered for the very first time – a tradition which we are proud to continue to this day.