Swiss Traditional Costume Association

The Swiss Folk Costume Association (STV) was founded on June 6, 1926, in Lucerne and today has over 15,000 members in 650 groups, which in turn are organized into 26 cantonal associations. The STV is an umbrella organization for folklore that is represented in all four cultural and linguistic regions of Switzerland.

The “Purpose” section of the Bylaws defines the following objectives:

Bylaws

The association aims to preserve, maintain, and revitalize (STV Mission Statement)

• traditional folk costumes

• folk songs

• folk dances

• folk music

• folk theater, and the local dialect

In 1928, the magazine “Trachtenpost” (originally “Schweizertracht,” “Heimatleben,” and “Tracht und Brauch”) was founded as the association’s official publication. It is published four times a year with a circulation of 20,000 copies in German and French.

In the various expert committees (folk dance, folk song, traditional costumes, editorial, and children’s and youth work), specialists prepare projects in the areas of education and continuing education, publications, and events for the executive management and Central Board until they are ready for decision-making.

The STV has its headquarters in Bubikon. All administrative tasks are handled there: management, secretariat, editorial department, fundraising, and finance.