JOIN the AFICIONADOS
To receive our world of travel and style delivered straight to your inbox.
Modern day milliners, family business Risa Hutwerkstatt knocks out handmade hats for every stylish man and woman of Zurich and beyond.
An honest and earthy family-run company since 1919, this Swiss-based business hand-makes hats for all shapes, sizes and occasions using machines and techniques that are as old as the busines itself.
The craft of hat-making comes from the use of an iron and a wet rag to persuade the material into its correct shape.
Hand-made with love and utmost care, Risa has a broad range of head wear to choose from, with new models and creations added to the emporium twice a year.
Find the classic cylinder to the back-in-vogue trilby, the ordinary man’s flat cap through to rollable panamas, straw cloches and the classic porkpie. Materials are gathered from nature including wool, hemp, straw, wheat and silk.
Each piece is a tribute to the traditions of hat making, whilst embracing the new trends and modern adaptations that keep Risa securely relevant in today’s fashion landscape.
To look at Risa’s history is to look at the story of Europe in the early 20th century. In 1919, the straw industry boomed and Risa’s business began: Marin Geissmann started to create woman’s hats from the straw. Before war brought the economy to a standstill the business was joined by Huber, Sax and Richner although producing dried potato was the only way they could stay afloat. The next few centuries saw the company become masters in their craft of rainwear and caps for uniform.
Now in its third generation, mother and son Gaby and Julian Huber are the modern-day devoted hat makers who run, oversee and create distinctive hats. Since 2010, they’ve expanded the workshop, moving into the production of historical headgear and opening a small shop in Zurich and an atelier in Basel.
For the ultimate fusion of handcrafted design and traditional techniques, Risa Hutwerkstatt’s hats are a unique and timeless top to any self-respecting style-seeker.
To receive our world of travel and style delivered straight to your inbox.