A Conversation with Frank Leder: "To share my ideals is the most important thing"

[sipang]

I have a cane just like that, it's gold and red painted and it's awesome.

 

[dfagdfsh]

via Wikipedia (I know, but gives a decent overview...):

The tradition of the journeyman years (German: auf der Walz sein) persisted well into the 1920s in German-speaking countries, but was set back by multiple events like Nazis banning the tradition, the postwar German economic boom making it seem too much of a burden, and in East Germany the lack of opportunities for work in an economic system based on Volkseigener Betrieb. Beginning in the late 1980s, renewed interest in tradition in general together with economic changes (especially after the fall of the Berlin Wall) have caused the tradition to gain wider acceptance. The tradition was brought back to life mostly unchanged from the medieval concept since the journeyman brotherhoods (German: Schächte, literally "shafts") still existed.

The journeyman brotherhoods had established a standard to ensure that wandering journeymen are not mistaken for tramps and vagabonds. The journeyman is required to be unmarried, childless and debt-free - so that the journeyman years will not be taken as a chance to run away from social obligations. In modern times the brotherhoods often require a police clearance. Additionally, journeymen are required to wear a specific uniform (German: Kluft) and to present themselves in a clean and friendly manner in public. This helps them to find shelter for the night and a ride to the next town.

The travelling book (German: Wanderbuch) was given to the journeyman and in each new town, he would go to the town office asking for a stamp. This qualifies both as a record of his journey and also replaces the residence registration that would otherwise be required. In contemporary brotherhoods the "Walz" is required to last at least three years and one day (sometimes two years and one day). During the journeyman years the wanderer is not allowed to return within a perimeter of 50 km of his home town, except in specific emergency situations, such as the impending death of an immediate relative.

At the beginning of the journey, the wanderer takes only a small, fixed sum of money with him (exactly five Deutschmarks was common, now five Euros); at its end, he should come home with exactly the same sum of money in his pocket. Thus, he is supposed neither to squander money nor to store up any riches during the journey, which should be undertaken only for the experience.

There are secret signs, such as specific, involved handshakes, that German carpenters traditionally use to identify each other. They are taught to the beginning journeyman before he leaves. This is an other traditional method to protect the trade against impostors. While less necessary in an age of telephones, identity cards and official diplomas, the signs are still retained as a tradition. Teaching them to anybody who has not successfully completed a carpenter apprenticeship is still considered very wrong, even though it is no longer a punishable crime today.

As of 2005 there were 600 to 800 journeymen "on the Walz", either associated with a brotherhood or running free. While the great majority is still male, young women are no longer unheard-of on the Walz today.

 

[sipang]

France has a similar tradition called "compagnons du devoir" but I don't think they have a specific uniform

 

[Zeemon]

could you provide some background on this? Is it carpenters doing an apprenticeship? Frank mentioned that they do it for 3 years and a day.

by the way how do you tag in a post

they do it after they finished an apprenticeship
yes they travel around for 3 years and a day, during this time they are not allowed to return to their hometown.
during this time, they also stay at a place for week or a few months to work and they travel to the next place

 

[dotcomzzz]

awesome interview teger, thank you.

 

[notwithit]

Great read, probably my favorite to date.

Best line of the whole interview:

I wouldn't be interested in doing a perfume or something, that's bullshit and boring.

 

[wogbog]

hehe him not liking computers goes well with the style of clothes he designs. I'd like to get into some Leder soon since old timey jackets, sweaters, and trousers are the best.