Hey everyone,

I'm a hobbyist woodworker in the US who LOVES the traditional German journeyman woodworking pants. On top of being extremely practical they are undeniably sick as hell.

I was thinking about buying a pair and getting them shipped over to me, but given that the traditions and cultural significance of the wandering apprenticeship seems to be a point of pride for the people who go through it, I didn't want to make a cultural mistake and buy something that's seen as needing to be earned.

I guess my question is would it be okay to wear these despite the fact that I have not and will never go through the apprenticeship or be part of a traditional guild?

I'd hate for a German woodworker to accuse me of stolen valor or something 😂

by HopefulHoldee

19 comments

  1. Now that i look at it like that, that kinda looks fire, espicially taking new trends into account

  2. >I’d hate for a German woodworker to accuse me of stolen valor or something 😂

    “Stolen valor” is not a thing in Germany. If you like those pants buy them.

  4. Funny think is that the design especially with the zippers was originaly from shipmakers to help prevent drowning so all the other wood professions stole this style themselves at some point haha

  5. Wearing a full “Kluft” (so the full getup) could be considered rude by some in Germany because you’d be posing as someone with an accreditation which you don’t actually have. But considering you’re talking about just the pants and also considering you’re in the US – where the journeyman system doesn’t really exist – nobody’s going to mistake you for an actual journeyman. So you’re not someone posing but someone interested in the journeyman culture, which is commendable in my book. I’d say go for it.

  7. This will be okay in the US. Very unlikely to ever meet a German Wandergsell anyway, but If it happens, you will have something to talk.

    It is indeed uncommon to wear them If youre not a craftsman in Germany. Some people in the alternative scene still do, i think thats okay, but only for people who really do something. If its only fashion, it seems awkward.

    I was a German Carpenter myself, i dont wear them anymore because i have become i’ll and cant work anymore. I liked them when i was still fit, but now i think If would still wear them, it would Not be approproate anymore.

    When i once was in france and belgium, i wore such trousers, but was frowned upon because some people there dont Like the German journeymen in their country. Maybe have had Bad experiences, some behave disorderly, or did not meet the expectations in work quality in these countries. There are also many weirdos and boasters among them nowadays.

    Edith: If you wear these trousers, wear them for woodworking and do youre work well enough to deserve wearing them. Noone will accuse you for cultural appropriation then, especially Not on another continent. There are said to be Not more than 500 orderly Wanderers (per year? There are No statistics) around anymore in the world. Have you ever met one?

  8. no need to think too much about it. worst that could happen is that people think you know a bit about woodworking.

    a traditional dress is required while on the walz, but it’s not a sign that someone has done a walz, especially if it’s just the pants.

    the pants by themselves are also worn by other craftspeople. both professionally and casually. definitely a niche thing, but not unheard of.

  9. You can easily wear that. But is the one in the pic from eiko? I had that, ripped apart after 3 months work. I would recommend using braces with them. I had better experiences with FHB.
    But the best quality would be the pants from kurt gaden: https://kurtgaden.de/Zunftkleidung/Zunfthosen/KUGA-Manchester-Zunfthose-Schwarz.html
    Flared trousers means “Schlaghose” in german. So if you want them you have to choose the ones with the 60cm

    Also: black is for woodworkers (joiners, carpenters, roofers), brown is for steinmetze (guys that work with stones, doing gravestones etc) and i dont know the other ones haha

  10. Now I want to have something again. These look so cool. Coming from a female here.

  12. Similar to how wearing a Camo or field jacket doesn’t mean you’re impersonating a veteran or soldier, you won’t get any complaints about wearing a carpenter’s trousers. It’s completely fine. Wearing the full outfit would be weird, and maybe a little offensive to some (in Germany ) if you weren’t actually into carpeting or wood working. But you are ! So if anything the German Carpenters will feel appreciated and most would probably really like knowing that there are people in the whole world who see them as icons.

  13. OP is looking for „free“ housing and food on his Germany trip… people over in r/finanzen will love you.

  14. Go get it if you want it!
    I don’t care and you shouldnt care about my opinion. Do whatever you like, to be intrested in a Culture Can Never be Offensive

  16. Pro tip: Buy two! One for work the other to keep and wear to special occasions.

  17. I think if you would wear them in Germany or Europe as a non woodworker it could be seen as strange or maybe even inappropriate. Though on the other hand I think just the trousers alone without the rest of the accessories (belt, jacket etc.) would probably be okay. Masquerading as a woodworker with the full attire would definitely make you a fraud and probably could even be illegal if you pretend to be in a guild by wearing emblems.

    But I find it okay to wear these in the US and without the emblems. Noone will mistake you for a German woodworker there, although a few of them might be in the US as well, wearing their traditional clothing possibly. But it is just not a well known uniform in the US like in Germany / Europe, so the fraudulent / imposter / poser aspect would be fully missing in my opinion if you just wear the trouser in the USA. I think most woodworkers would find it cool at least if you in a way identify with the woodworking community (which you seem to do) and don’t just wear it as a fashion accessory.

  18. No that’s fine. Germans tend to not have a concept of cultural appropriation. You can use whatever part of German culture independent of any personal connection to Germany.

  19. In my youth in the 80ies many different people wore those pants; students, boyscouts, home-improvement-guys, cowboy enthusiasts…
    And still today I see those pants from time to time on people who are no carpenters.
    I see no problem here.

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