The St. Gallen City Parliament Fully Supports the Textile Museum Renovation Project
30.10.2025 | from Textile Museum St. Gallen
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30.10.2025, Following the positive decision of the Cantonal Council in September, it was the city of St. Gallen yesterday, October 28, 2025, that voted on its contribution to the Textile Museum's renewal project. The city parliament unanimously decided to support the initiative with 6.95 million Swiss francs – a strong sign of unity and appreciation for one of Eastern Switzerland's most significant cultural institutions.
The Textile Museum St. Gallen is delighted and grateful for the city parliament's decision. Already in September 2025, the Cantonal Council had expressed a clear commitment to the future of the house with a contribution of 13.9 million Swiss francs. Together, these decisions mark a historic milestone for one of Europe's oldest textile museums – and for the entire region.
“We are overwhelmed by the strong political approval for the renewal of the Textile Museum,” says Carmen Fleisch-Otten, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Textile Museum St. Gallen. “Yesterday's pledge of support from the city parliament motivates us to advance the project with dedication and to secure the remaining private funds as quickly as possible.
By their support, the canton and city of St. Gallen underline the central role of the Textile Museum for the textile heritage of Eastern Switzerland. The museum combines over 140 years of history with innovation and social relevance. “The textile history of Eastern Switzerland is world history. The fact that politics and the public recognize and actively support this responsibility is a strong signal for the future of our cultural identity,” emphasizes Carmen Fleisch-Otten.
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Textile Museum St. Gallen
The collections of the Textile Museum and the Textile Library St. Gallen trace back to the second half of the 19th century and stand in the tradition of trade museums and pattern collections that were founded across Europe during that time.
They were meant to serve as inspiration and a standard for the industry’s own production and to foster 'good taste'. In 1863, the Commercial Directorate – the association of St. Gallen merchants – began systematically collecting pattern samples worldwide for local producers and expanded the existing stock. In 1878, the museum was founded.
Over time, the collection was expanded through purchases and especially through donations of significant private collections and archives of the textile industry. Of utmost importance is the collecting activity of the industrialist family Iklé. The museum remains committed to its founding idea, to be a source of inspiration for designers and creators.
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Source: Textile Museum St. Gallen, Press release
Original article published on: Das Stadtparlament St.Gallen bekennt sich geschlossen zum Umbauprojekt des Textilmuseums