Special Exhibition: "Von der Wolle"

The new special exhibition “Von der Wolle – a story of animals, machines, and people from 1800 until today” showcases the eventful history of the raw material wool at the Tuchfabrik Müller of the LVR Industrial Museum.

As early as 1800, there was a growing demand across Europe for particularly fine wool. Newly developed textile machines placed increasingly precise requirements on wool – such as fiber length and crimp. As a result, sheep breeds were selectively bred to meet industrial needs. In the 20th century, wool came under pressure from substitutes like synthetic or shredded wool. This trend intensified from 1933 with raw material shortages and the Nazi autarky plans. Poor wearing comfort led consumers to lose trust in wool while supposedly easy-care synthetic fibers took over the market. It was only with the environmental movement of the 1970s that wool’s image began to improve again.

Today, the natural material wool is being rediscovered. Companies and initiatives are exploring diverse uses beyond fashion and clothing. Aspects like wearing comfort, durability, and biodegradability contrast with experiences of itchy clothes, felting, and moth damage. Questions about animal welfare and CO₂ footprint are growing louder. While the global wool market is dominated by large producers with huge homogeneous herds and sometimes controversial farming methods in Australia and New Zealand, regional initiatives increasingly focus on sustainable sheep farming and new uses.

The exhibition invites you on a discovery journey across roughly 550 square meters through the surprising variety of wool’s applications. Most of the 200 exhibits come from the museum’s own collection. Restorers from the LVR Industrial Museum and students of TH Köln have examined them – sometimes with unexpected results. The objects offer insights into wool’s different facets: a combing waste from an Aachen cloth manufacturer from 1860 represents the complex processing steps of the raw material. A travel dress from 1880 impressed with excellent weather protection – showing that wool gains functional properties through proper treatment. This is also reflected in technical applications like tennis balls or piano keys. Sheep models illustrate the variety of partly extinct breeds. Historical illustrations and media stations complement the presentation. Anyone wanting to look closer can examine their own clothing under a microscope literally.

Opening hours: Tue.-Fri. 10:00 am–5:00 pm, Sat. & Sun. 11:00 am–6:00 pm

Admission: €6 adults, free for under 18, €11 combo ticket with permanent exhibition

Location: Euskirchen-Kuchenheim, LVR Industrial Museum Tuchfabrik Müller, Carl-Koenen-Str. 25b

Info phone: 02234. 9921555