Living Moments - N°2 Edition 2014

Edition 2 · 2014 When the sky-blue 1950 Opel Blitz hums along the streets of Sylt, insiders know: somebody is going to be happy! Willy Trautmann and his daughter Svenja are just delivering one of their beach chairs. A specimen of a sun chair! Hand- woven and built to last forever. And of course, they not only bring this high-class workmanship to sun-terrace owners and restaurateurs on the North Sea Island, but they also send them – via ship and modern logistics – to their customers in Canada and Australia. Even “Harrod’s” the presti- gious department store in London, has included “Sylt beach chairs” in its select list of suppliers – an accolade! The story of the unique island business starts during times of need: The Second World War is just over when the former soldier, Paul Schardt, begins to build up a basketry business. His beach chair however, is different from those from the Baltic coast where the protector for wind and sun had been invented: it can be tilted backwards, whereas the original specimen has an inflexible and roundish design. His stepson, Willy Traut- mann, joins the family business in the 1970s after finishing his apprenticeship as a carpenter. The third generation – his daughter Svenja (30) and his son Benjamin (23) – are also aboard, as well as another 16 employees who, today, create an all year round place in the sun in the south of Sylt. For example, Cemil Mogar, called “Jimmy”. The Kurdish-bornman has kept faithwith the northern German manufacturer for 32 years. Together with three other basket weavers he is responsible for the very special visual appearance of the chair’s body. It takes about half a day to weave Even “Harrod’s” the prestigious department store in London, has included “Sylt beach chairs” in its select list of suppliers – an accolade! Bezugsquelle/ Supplier: Sylt-Strandkörbe Hafenstraße 10 • D-25980 Rantum/Sylt Tel.: 0049 46 51 2 28 43 Fax: 0049 46 51 2 87 26 www.sylt-strandkoerbe.de E-mail: info@sylt-strandkoerbe.de Die Lieferzeit kann einigeWochen betragen. Delivery time may take a few weeks. 176