"From sheep to shop" is the motto of the Ötztaler Schafwollzentrum, a shop run by the Regensburger family in the village of Umhausen in the Ötztal Valley. Here, the wool is first washed before being dyed in up to 90 different colours and processed to produce warm clothing and other items.
The Ötztaler Schafwollzentrum is not one of those places where stressed workers dash around in a fluster. Instead, the atmosphere is one of concentration and calm: everyone knows what to do and goes about their work with poise and pride. This is possible thanks to smooth logistics and an international approach combined with a determination to maintain regional economic structures and transparent production processes. Drawn by the motto "From sheep to shop", many visitors travel to the picturesque Ötztal Valley not only to stock up on cosy woollen clothing but also to see how the articles are made. Guided tours of the factory are held regularly, though visitors are also welcome to take a look around the facilities at other times as well.
Counting sheep
It would be an exaggeration to say that owner Johannes Regensburger and his son Joachim know every sheep whose wool passes through the Ötztal Schafwollzebtrum, but it wouldn't be all that far from the truth. The wool used comes from sheep living in the Ötztal Valley itself as well as South Tirol, Bavaria and Switzerland. The business itself is based on three pillars. The Regensburger family washes 250 tonnes of wool every year for wool manufacturers throughout Central Europe, from small batches of just a few kilos to much larger quantities for industrial producers. The second pillar is dying wool into as many as 90 different colours. Last but not least, the company makes their trademark carpets designed by Innsbruck-based firm Pudelskern.
The Ötztaler Schafwollzentrum is not one of those places where stressed workers dash around in a fluster. Instead, the atmosphere is one of…
