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29. 07. 09. - 15:00

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29. 07. 09. - 15:00

Thighs the limit for lederhosen sales

Kathryn Quinn

The bottom has fallen out of the jeans market in Europe after frugal fans returned to lederhosen which take more than 100 years to wear out.

Germans and Austrians hit by the credit crunch have rediscovered the traditional leather shorts which wearers never have to wash and never need repairs.

Now designers are targeting women and children with trendier versions of the traditionally male outfits giving casual wear like jeans and chinos a run for their money.

The revival emerged as officials in the tiny alpine village of Windischgarsten in the Austrian Alps confirmed that 20,000 shorts-wearing fans had registered for the international Lederhosen Festival this weekend.

Designer Wolfgang Hofbauer who is the fifth generation of his family to run a lederhosen making business said: "The fact that they last so long is a big attraction in these difficult times."

"They look good and can be worn in summer with short trousers and in winter with longer trousers.

"And they are low maintenance. You never need to wash them and a good pair of lederhosen bought new is something that can be passed down through the generations," he added.

Organisers say fans have travelled all the way from China, Canada and Australia to attend the bash where visitors follow traditional local ways of beer swilling, sausage eating contests, and thigh slapping dances.

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