Since Sunday 19 January, the ESCHE Museum in Limbach-Oberfrohna has not only been showcasing the history of the knitting industry, but also taking visitors into the future: The Makerhub ESCHE LAB, a workshop for creative textile work, celebrated an overwhelming opening with over 400 guests.
In addition to the Mayor of Limbach-Oberfrohna, Gerd Härtig, the official opening ceremony was also addressed by Member of Parliament Carlos Kasper, Museum Director Dr Barbara Wiegand-Stempel and the curator of the Chemnitz 2025 main project Makers, Business & Arts Josephine Hage.
Gerd Härtig emphasised that the Capital of Culture will bring sustainable cultural and economic dynamism to the region. In his speech, Carlos Kasper emphasised that the Limbach knitting industry is closely interwoven with the successes of the Chemnitz textile industry. Curator Josephine Hage recognised the museum team's commitment to establishing the museum as a place of co-creativity and a platform for European textile designers and artists. Finally, museum director Barbara Wiegand-Stempel emphasised how the ESCHE LAB helps to pass on knowledge about textile technologies to the younger generation. Textile designer Virginia Reil, who together with Gabriele Papstmann was instrumental in developing the concept for the LAB, thanked dozens of partners and companies who had made this project a reality.
Afterwards, an open day invited all interested parties to explore the museum and ESCHE LAB. Textile professionals explained the museum's various flat and circular knitting machines, which visitors were able to try out, as well as an e-spinner, an electric spinning wheel. The guests took home self-designed knitting buttons as souvenirs. Many textile professionals took the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the new location. The ESCHE LAB also cooperates with the Saxon Textile Research Institute (STFI) in Chemnitz. This means that further projects can be realised with an expanded machine park.
The design of the ESCHE LAB was realised by the Chemnitz-based design studio for product and interior design loeserbettels. Designer Sofia Löser and designer Henrik Bettels are graduates of Burg Giebichenstein and founded the studio ten years ago.
The opening of the ESCHE LAB was a complete success and a promising start for this new place of creativity and textile learning.
Workshops, courses, meetings and other formats will take place at ESCHE LAB in the future. Designers, artists and other textile enthusiasts and creative people can use the workshop on request. Detailed conditions and fees for use are still being finalised. Until then, the team will accept individual enquiries.
The ESCHE Lab is one of nine maker hubs in Chemnitz and the cultural capital region. The Makerhubs are an initiative of the flagship project Makers, Business & Arts of the European Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025 in cooperation with the Landesverband der Kultur- und Kreativwirtschaft Sachsen e.V.
