The Woolwind Story

Woolwind: Developed with musicians - for musicians

The Woolwind mock cuffs

Elastic and temperature-regulating - The functional fabrics from 37.5

Tester and Testimonial: The Bamberg Symphony

The Woolwind story begins in January 2018. Christine Barth-Darkow and Mark Heising meet at a seminar with the management of the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra. They exchange ideas about the similarities and differences between professional musicians and professional athletes, team leadership, and the unique dynamics of an orchestra.

On the way to lunch, during a walk along the Regnitz river, the idea came about: What if orchestral musicians, like professional athletes, could wear work clothes tailored to their needs? After all, shoes and clothing contribute significantly to new records and other top athletic performances. Why should runners, soccer players, tennis players, and swimmers wear the best possible jerseys and suits, while orchestral musicians play in tailcoats that look classic but are uncomfortable and too warm, and certainly not designed for musicians?

The idea never leaves Christine Barth-Darkow - who worked for many years in product development for a well-known sporting goods manufacturer. This is followed by discussions, brainstorming sessions, questionnaires, and numerous drawings and sketches, until a first concept is finally developed and a patent is filed.

In addition to the wishes of the musicians (the tailcoat should be washable, light & elegant, and guarantee full freedom of movement while playing), the team's experience flows into the concept. Mesh inserts under the arms and on the legs, as well as special functional fabrics, ensure optimal temperature regulation. Elastic blended fabrics give the tailcoat the elasticity that musicians need, regardless of the instrument they play.

The special twist and, at the same time, the trademark of Woolwind is the patent-pending, button-on cuff mock-up. It allows the wearer to play in a short-sleeved shirt. A layer of fabric in the elbow area is eliminated, increasing mobility and temperature regulation. This makes the Woolwind tailcoat concept an eye-catcher and a topic of conversation as soon as you enter the dressing room.

From the summer of 2018, the Woolwind team then searches for a suitable partner to manufacture the tailcoats. With the traditional Bamberg-based company Greiff, a local partner is found whose experience can benefit the Woolwind project. Short distances, fast development times, and a shared enthusiasm for new ideas make this partnership a guarantee of success.

Together with Greiff, the issue of materials is also solved, as the Bamberg-based company has been working successfully with the material supplier 37.5 for its suits for years. There, too, the Woolwind idea is met with a positive response from the very beginning. Fabrics are compared and tested, and at the end of 2018, all components are ready to produce the first prototypes.

The handover of the first tailcoats to the musicians at the beginning of 2019 is the litmus test for Woolwind. Can the concept convince the musicians in action?
The feedback was consistently positive. Some musicians could only be persuaded with difficulty to return the tailcoat and wait for the next stage of development. There was still room for improvement in terms of style, but the team considered the functioning temperature regulation and the added freedom of movement to be decisive factors that inspired enthusiasm among all the musicians.

For Christine Barth-Darkow, this means it's time to start her own business. As a registered businesswoman, she is the heart and brains of Woolwind and has the company entered in the commercial register in July 2019. Ina Franzmann and Mark Heising join as founding investors and continue to provide know-how and advice.

The feedback from the musicians themselves is of inestimable value for design and product development - so not only the experience of the orchestral musicians flows into the tailcoat concept, but also their eye for detail and their knowledge of the pitfalls of everyday concert life. The result: a tailcoat by musicians for musicians.