How to Choose the Best Traditional Lederhosen

Every culture has their celebrated time-honoured heritage. Included in this heritage are traditional clothes that serve as a representative face to the culture. In Korea this is the Handbook, in Spain this is Traje de Flamenco, and in Germany this is Lederhosen and Dirndls. These two variations of traditional dress are highly esteemed Bavarian outfits. A Dirndl is a colourful dress with a corset, blouse, and an apron. Lederhosen are a brown leather pants that are paired with matching leather suspenders. Sound familiar? These are the traditional outfits that are famously seen at Oktoberfest in Germany and all around the world!

Going to Oktoberfest you? Have a German club meeting? You’ll need a pair of Lederhosen or a Dirndl! If you need Lederhosen that are authentic and well-made, you must first do a bit of homework on what to look for. The number one complaint we hear about Lederhosen and Dirndls that people have purchased online is that the item they received is low quality-- similar to that of a cheap Halloween costume. We find that people who experience this inconvenience do not know what to look for when shopping for traditional Lederhosen and Dirndls. We’ve compiled a few simple things to note while in the market for a bonfire pair of Lederhosen, or a gorgeous and intricately made Dirndl.

1.       Make note of the price.

This one is a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised how many people think they’ve found a good deal when really they’ve just sacrificed the quality of the item. You want to stay in the $100 and above range, anything under this price will likely be ill-fitting or easily torn. You want good quality leather, and sturdy quality leather is going to be a little more on the pricey side.

2.       Make note of the site.

Take a close look at the site you are buying from. What is the company name? Are they well known in the industry? Do a Google search for their company name. Your best bet for finding high quality traditional German clothing is by choosing a reliable brand, one that is recognizable. For example, the Lederhosen you find on German-Lederhosen are by Ernst Licht. What or who is Ernst Licht? A quick Google search would show that they are the top US importer of German goods. Also make note of the customer service provided from the site, and where is the customer service coming from? You want to pick a site that seems available across many platforms (preferably over the phone, and make sure the number is in your country code!)

3.       Take note of the materials and origin.

You have to look out for the material of the item you want to purchase because this will be the biggest aide in finding out if your items will look cheap in person. For Lederhosen, you want to look for COW SUEDE/LEATHER for sturdiness and for use at Oktoberfest or German club gatherings. For use in Bavarian dance troupes you want to look out for GOAT SUEDE/LEATHER. Any other material will immediately render the Lederhosen unauthentic. If you are buying a Dirndl it can be a little trickier to determine the quality based off of materials alone, as most dirndls are made with 100% polyester. In the case of dirndls, it is best to go back to making note of the price and the site from which you are buying. Also make sure to look for the origin of the piece. Is it imported from Germany? Made in the US?

So there you have it! Three easy to follow basics for purchasing high quality German attire. We can actually make it even easier for you-- why not buy from German-Lederhosen? As mentioned earlier we are owned by Ernst Licht, a big name in the US Traditional German goods manufacturer and importer. We have been in the game for over 30 years, seriously, traditional German clothing is our bread and butter!

Anymore questions? Give us a call, send us an email, or visit one of our stores!