Valma dives deep into the rich textile heritage of the alpine Rhine Valley. Once serving the High Courts in Vienna, Paris, Budapest and Moscow, ancient skills and techniques are practiced and applied to create unique items. Each item tells a story about our origins and the amalgam of the many artisanal influences from around the world. Like our ancestors, we thrive to work with natural fibres that are largely untouched by chemicals. Untreated natural fibres cannot be processed by modern textile machinery because they possess only little elastic elongation and very low deformability. Working with hands and traditional machinery allows us to spin and weave some of the most delicate yarns and transform them into scarves and accessories of genuine natural qualities and extraordinary wearing comfort. Each item is a manifestation of preservation and innovation, gracefully embracing the path between past and future. The designs are minimalist interpretations of alpine motives with a touch of opulence owned to our textile history serving the wants and needs of noble courts and appreciating customers.
Everything we do is a manifestation of preservation and innovation, gracefully embracing the path between past and future.
Proclaim a Visionary Presence
We take pride in being independent, authentic and to oversee the value chain from sourcing, to design, the making and refining. Making conscious choices is reconciling simplicity with audacity, embracing decency and exuberance, the rough and the noble.
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Uplift and Elevate
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Rise Above and Emerge from WithinWe build a bridge between the past and the future, the local heritage and the cosmopolite. Discovering the supreme quality of rare natural fibres that are woven from knowledgeable hands is to tell a story of origins, identity and effortless elegance.
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groundbreaking and classic
slow and Considered
As a private label Valma is associated with one of the oldest and privately owned cooperative handlooming manufacture in Switzerland called Heimatwerk Zürich Oberland. Back in 1928, when most manufacturing occurred in household-based work as a supplement to agriculture, the cooperative organized rural artisans into a single enterprise to secure materials, tools, specialized equipment, know-how, sales and distribution. In 1996, a beneficiary trust was introduced to preserve ancient techniques, patterns and national costume making. Trained in the most sophisticated weaving and embroidery techniques, artisans create authentic fabrics and products for some of the most prestigious Swiss hotels, restaurants and traditional gildes.
The associated private labels such as Valma are dedicated to innovative adaptation and modern interpretations to serve the everyday needs of the cosmopolitan crowd. Barbara Fuchs, is also a member of the association of the Workshop in Riefensberg to preserve the traditional costume called "Juppe" of the Bregenzer Wald in Western Austria. The very name itself – along with the shape of the skirt – derives from the French word “jupe”. The black color and the wide-brimmed straw hat can be traced back to Spanish influences, while the fur-trimmed cap draws on Russian models.
The associated private labels such as Valma are dedicated to innovative adaptation and modern interpretations to serve the everyday needs of the cosmopolitan crowd. Barbara Fuchs, is also a member of the association of the Workshop in Riefensberg to preserve the traditional costume called "Juppe" of the Bregenzer Wald in Western Austria. The very name itself – along with the shape of the skirt – derives from the French word “jupe”. The black color and the wide-brimmed straw hat can be traced back to Spanish influences, while the fur-trimmed cap draws on Russian models.
We design and create luxury scarves and accessories with artisans and partners who believe in the quality of natural ingredients, meticulous detail and handcrafted excellence. In all our efforts we are committed to a much larger mission of serving local communities in preserving immaterial cultural goods, nurturing well-being and striving for qualitative growth. We believe that knowing where we come from makes us brave in embracing what is foreign. We also believe that being rooted in our traditions opens up new paths to innovation and development in local communities. Besides, we think that it is worthwhile to preserve our local textile knowledge because wearing a scarf handmade from natural yarns is simply beautiful, sumptuously elegant and uplifting as each purchase contributes to a larger cause.
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founderBarbara fuchsHer passion for natural fibres and textile techniques was nurtured by her late grandmother, who was trained as a textile technologist, and made any wish to have a look out of the latest Vogue come true. Barbara works as an innovation economist, but the passion for natural fabric and exquisite techniques remained a fundamental pillar in her own styling and wardrobe. When relocating to Liechtenstein for private reasons, she started to research alpine plants, herbs and textile techniques in her leisure time. What started as a passionate pastime slowly grew into a network of likeminded artisans, scientists and women engaged in the preservation of old knowledge through original thinking and renewal. Since 2016, Barbara manages sourcing of materials, collaborates with artisans in the design process and is responsible for finances and marketing. She is also the voice of Valma in the promotion of sustainable luxury and spreading the word of preservation, material quality, women entrepreneurship and feminist economics.
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Head of HandlooM weavingkatharina osterwalderKatharina Osterwalder studied textile design and weaving in Switzerland, Japan and Germany. In 1991 she passed her master craftswoman diploma in weaving in Hannover, Germany. Since then she´s been researching, teaching and working as textile artisan and master weaver in her own atelier and at educational institutions. Since 2018 she manages the weaving business of the cooperative manufacture to which Valma is associated. For Valma she carries out exclusive designs for made-to-order scarves and created the "Bergseide (Mountain Silk)" Collection of men scarves in her own handloom atelier.
managing director of
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