Blueprint in the Koó blueprint in Steinberg

Creative craft in Burgenland

I can still remember it well. My grandmother liked to wear blue print aprons when she worked in her kitchen. For me, these blue fabrics and the smell of fresh pastries are among my earliest childhood memories. The aprons were made of durable cotton. They became increasingly paler as they got older. They only radiated the intense blue when they were bought new. After that, the radiance became more and more lost with every wash. “This is typical for blue print fabrics,” Josef Koó explains to us. We are guests of the last blueprinter in the Koó blueprinting shop in Steinberg Burgenland. Josef Koó and his wife Miriam talk about this traditional craft in Burgenland to this day.

Blueprint is an intangible world heritage

In the town of Steinberg, south of Lake Neusiedl, not far from the Austrian-Hungarian border, Josef Koó runs the last blueprinting shop in Burgenland. “There used to be several blue printers in this state alone,” he explains to us. “Today there is only one other blue printer in the whole of Austria.” “A dying craft, right?” I want to know. And Josef Koó laughs: “Blue printing is currently experiencing a renaissance. Craftsmanship and its individuality are in demand again. And we’re happy about that.”

Fabrics, shoes, bags and more from blue print

No wonder, look at the pretty fabrics. These are printed with two different patterns on both sides. The Koós are inventive. In this textile print shop, all operations are still performed manually. So you do not just print linen or cotton. Also silk fabrics, T-shirts, shoes, bags, hats, pot warmers adorn the blue and white patterns. These are typical of the blue print. The patterns themselves vary. Small, filigree flowers, diamonds, stripes, dots, borders, large flowers or even elephants decorate the products of the Koó family. Pretty, they are all.

The term "blueprint" is actually a misnomer. Because it is a dyeing process. The patterns are not printed on the paint. Instead, you put a model on the fabric. The sample models are often very old. A color-repellent compound is applied to the fabric via the model. This cardboard prevents the color from penetrating the fabric at these points. The recipe for cardboard is the secret of the blueprinters. Among the Koós, this only knows Josef Koó. His wife Miriam laughs: "It's a family secret that not even I know."

Then the fabric has to dry. Only then does the blueprint printer stretch the lengths of fabric on a roll of fabric and immerse them in the dye bath. Finally, he removes the cardboard with dilute sulfuric acid.

Where does the blue print come from?

Blue printing is a very old craft. It is already known in ancient China, India and Egypt. The first calico print shop was built in Amsterdam. And Jeremias Neuhofer brought the craft with him to Germany. Blue printing was particularly popular in the 17th and 18th centuries. However, with increasing industrialization, crafts became less important. The manufacturing process was too complex. Only in recent years has the demand for handmade sample fabrics increased again.

What color is used for blueprint?

In blue printing, indigo is used to dye the fabrics. This is initially a light green. Only during the dyeing process does it turn a dark blue. Marco Polo brought indigo to Europe in the 13th century. However, indigo was too expensive because of the long transport route. Instead, woad was used in Europe. This was cultivated on a large scale, especially in Thuringia. Only when the Portuguese discovered the sea route to India did cotton and indigo arrive in Europe in sufficient quantities.

How many blue printers are there?

In Germany there are only twelve companies that produce blueprints. There are also fifteen more in European countries. The Koós are one of two blueprinting companies in Austria that still use old methods to dye the fabrics.

The atmosphere at the Koós is definitely creative. They work with workshops, designers and artists who create beautiful products from their materials. But Miriam Koó is also an artist. She studied at the art academy in Linz and exhibits her works under her maiden name Miriam Schwack.

If you want to see real blueprints for yourself, you can do so here, for example:

Original Burgenland indigo hand blue print
Blueprint Koó

Neugasse 14
7453 Steinberg
Burgenland, Austria

T: + 43 (0) 2612 8471

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Source: On-site research at the invitation of Burgenland Tourismus. However, our opinion remains our own.

Text Blaudruckerei Koó: © Copyright Monika Fuchs and TravelWorldOnline
Photos: © Copyright Monika Fuchs and TravelWorldOnline
Video: © Copyright Petar Fuchs and TravelWorldOnline