Boutonnières

The buttonhole

Silk flowers have been produced in Saxon Switzerland since 1834. These natural-looking, filigree works of art look very elegant as a boutonnière, i.e. buttonhole flower on the gentleman's lapel. Each boutonnière is one handcrafted unique piece made of hand-dyed silk.

Men's accessory with history

As a statement of fearlessness, those condemned during the French Revolution wore a flower in their buttonhole. Later, the buttonhole flower found its way into the dressing rooms of gentlemen of the world and became a statement of good taste. Each boutonnière is punched, embossed, and then built up leaf by leaf into a flower using traditional tools. This is called "blümeln": an old, almost extinct craft that has nothing to do with cheaply glued mass-produced items, as one often sees. No plastic parts are used. The silk for our boutonnières has been sourced from a Bohemian silk weaving mill since the end of the 19th century. Potato starch and gelatin provide firmness. The trick, however, is the attachment of the boutonnière: a loop-like stem, which is hand-wrapped with 4-5 very fine silk threads, spreads slightly apart after being inserted into the buttonhole. This looks natural, sits firmly, and neither needles nor clips are used. Oscar Wilde paid literary tribute to the boutonnière in 1894 for the magazine "Chameleon" in his "Phrases and Philosophy for the Use of the Young": "A really well-made Buttonhole is the only link between Art and Nature." How true! Whether carnation or rose: No matter which flowers you wear on your lapel - you are making a statement!

Boutonnière - Decoration of the gentleman

The boutonnière in the buttonhole is a testament to style confidence and masculine self-assurance. It is about elegance and personal charisma.

Boutonnière Rules of 1913

Some time ago, we came across a small book with useful tips from the year 1913: "The Gentleman - a Manual for Men" by Franz W. Koebner.

Who we are

If you are wondering who this Herr von Welt is and who the minds behind it are, you can learn more here about the idea, the curators, and their motivations.

From the journal

Artificial Flowers 1905 - the History of the Boutonnière

Für die Freunde der Seiden-Boutonnière: eine kleine Geschichte der Kunstblume - und somit der Knopflochblume, der Boutonnière.

Introducing: Boutonnière Ambassador Alex Mendham

We consider ourselves overjoyed that we were able to win Alex Mendham as ambassador for our silk boutonnières some time ago.

From the Gentlemen's Breviary of 1913: Boutonnière Rules

Color joy and zest for life: the boutonniere "Our boutonnière tip is actually a book tip and the invitation to pursue a forgotten gentlemanly pastime: namely, the hunt for forgotten and hard-to-find books. Some time ago, we came across a small cloth-bound book from the year 1913: "The Gentleman - a Gentleman's Breviary