TREFFPUNKT WERK September 11–12, 2026 Ruckstuhl workshop Langenthal
Visit the Ruckstuhl workshop at the second edition of the Open Workshops Days in Oberaargau.
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ZURICH DESIGN WEEKS 2026 September 17–27, 2026, Widder Hotel Zurich
In the fireplace room of the Widder Hotel, «Atlantis» by Trix and Robert Haussmann encounters the stone-inlay floor by Tilla Theus.
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D.N.A.
Hair yarn - A material between tradition and performance.
Horsehair and goat hair are among the oldest textile raw materials in the world. Long before synthetic fibers were developed, animal hairs were used for furniture, technical fabrics, transportation, and floor coverings. Their natural elasticity, high durability, and exceptional shape stability made them a valued material across many generations.
While many traditional applications have disappeared, the knowledge of processing these special fibers has been preserved in a few specialized companies. Ruckstuhl is today one of the manufacturers that continue to use and further develop hair yarn as an independent material.
The properties remain remarkable to this day. Horsehair has high tensile strength and always returns to its original shape even after heavy use. Goat hair impresses with its robustness, abrasion resistance, and distinctive surface texture. Together, they create a material that uniquely combines durability and naturalness.
Within the collection, hair yarn is used in various constructions. Each quality interprets the material in its own way.
REP is one of the iconic fabrics of the manufactory. The precise ribbed structure gives the carpet a calm, architectural appearance. Light and shadow subtly outline the surface, making the construction visible. REP stands for clarity, durability, and understated elegance.
TRAP connects hair yarn with virgin wool. This creates a more lively surface with additional warmth and depth. The different fibers complement each other in their effect: the wool adds volume and comfort, while the hair yarn provides stability and durability. The result is a carpet with a distinctive texture and high everyday practicality.
With DRY another interpretation of the material was created. Here, horsehair yarn is combined with a sisal substructure. The combination of these two natural fibers brings together different qualities: the elasticity and durability of the horsehair yarn meets the stability and clear structure of the sisal. This creates a carpet that uniquely combines robustness, comfort, and material character. DRY exemplifies how traditional natural fibers still open up new constructive possibilities today.
What connects REP, TRAP, and DRY is their material-focused development. The design does not follow short-term trends but the properties of the fibers used. Each quality utilizes the specific strengths of the material and translates them into its own textile language.
In a time when far too many floor coverings still rely on synthetic raw materials, these qualities remind us that performance and naturalness do not have to be contradictory. They represent material knowledge that has grown over generations and continues to shape Ruckstuhl's textile expertise today.
