To spot Getzner Textile, look for the impressive industrial building just ahead, with its modern glass and historic brick textures-it stands along Bleichestraße, commanding attention with both contemporary flair and a hint of industrial nostalgia.
Welcome to one of Bludenz’s star attractions-Getzner Textile, where over 200 years of history are woven right into the fabric of this town! Imagine, for a moment, you’re standing in the early 1800s. There's the hum of spinning wheels, the steady rhythm of handlooms, and in the air, the faint, earthy scent of freshly dyed cloth. This is where Christian Getzner, Franz Xaver Mutter, and Andreas Gassner rolled up their sleeves and founded the company in 1818. Back then, the world was a bit less “digital,” and a lot more “spin it yourself and hope it doesn’t unravel.”
A year after opening their doors, these textile pioneers brought a splash of color to western Austria-they launched the first “red dye works” and spinning mill in the region’s neighboring town, Feldkirch. By 1820, they employed around 3,000 home workers. Just picture it: every corner of Bludenz and its valleys alive with women spinning, weaving, and chatting while making gorgeous textiles for the growing company. In 1827, Getzner took over the city bleachery here on Bleichestraße. Today, this very spot remains the heart of the Getzner empire.
But Getzner wasn’t just ahead in fashion-they were trendsetters in power, too! As the years spun by, this family of innovators traded in old-school mechanics for the spark of electricity, building their very own hydropower plants at the end of the 19th century. By 1897, the hum of Nenzing’s Mengbach power station meant the whole factory ran on homegrown electricity-a shocking development, you might say! For decades, they kept the lights and looms running entirely on their own power.
Trials weren’t few: in 1902, a mighty fire roared through their big Feldkirch factory, leaving five stories in ashes and not a single patch rebuilt. But Getzner pressed on, expanding internationally, and by 1980 they spun off the textile division as Getzner Textile AG, the global powerhouse you see today.
Now, Getzner isn’t just about looking good-they’re about doing good, too. Their textiles clothe people from Africa to Asia, with 95 percent of fabrics heading overseas. They’ve got an armory of green certifications-those labels like “Oeko-Tex” and “bluesign” mean your shirt might be better for the planet than your breakfast cereal is for you! And just behind you, invisible highways of hot water snake through Bludenz-Getzner’s own district heating network, turning steam from their machines into cozy warmth for pools, public buildings, and more. That’s innovation you can feel!
And if you wonder why the employees here always seem to have an extra spring in their step, maybe it’s the awards-Best Employer in Vorarlberg, Family Business of the Year, and even national prizes for using waste heat like it’s the latest fashion. From homespun handwork to state-of-the-art, eco-friendly production, Getzner’s story truly has it all-hard work, wild invention, roaring fire, crackling electricity, and a community stitched together across centuries. So, next time you slip on a crisp shirt or see a dramatic damask in the wild, imagine just a bit of Bludenz’s magic, spun right here!
