S-MAK Stickerei – Museum. Archiv. Kommunikation

About the museum

Lustenau has been a centre of machine embroidery since the 19th century; especially from the 1970s onwards, high-quality embroidery from Vorarlberg was exported in large quantities to West Africa, particularly Nigeria. In 1971 the embroidery association, together with the Vorarlberg Embroidery Centre, set up a first embroidery museum on Pontenstraße. It closed in spring 2015; the collection was then given as a gift to the market municipality of Lustenau.

In 2018 the association “Stickerei – Museum. Archiv. Kommunikation”, S-MAK for short, was founded to retell the history of embroidery and to include its present and future as well. Since 2019 it has looked after the collection as a permanent loan from the municipality. In a transitional phase it used rooms of a former embroidery business on Hofsteigstraße for exhibitions, walks to Lustenau embroiderers’ houses, eyewitness conversations and artist residencies. In 2023 the association moved into the hall of the former Johann Hagen embroidery firm on Kneippstraße, where the new museum opened on October 3, 2024. In 2025 it received the Austrian Museum Seal of Quality.

The centrepiece is the exhibition “Von der Idee zum Produkt” (“From Idea to Product”), which traces the work steps of an embroidery production of the 1970s from design to finished goods. Three working machines show the technical development: a hand embroidery machine from around 1890, a 10-yard embroidery machine by Saurer based on the model presented in 1911, and a digitally controlled Saurer machine. In a dedicated punching and drawing room, visitors can see how a pattern is translated for the machine. In addition, a temporary exhibition presents a focus theme for about a year at a time. The collection includes around 300 embroidered dresses, pattern books, the pattern protection archive of the embroidery association and an archive of eyewitness accounts; part of it is accessible online.

Highlights

• Three working embroidery machines from around 1890 to the present
• Public machine demonstration on the last Friday of every month
• Punching and drawing room showing how embroidery patterns are translated
• Around 300 embroidered dresses in the collection
• Austrian Museum Seal of Quality 2025

Permanent exhibition

• Von der Idee zum Produkt – The work steps of embroidery production from design to finished goods, with three working embroidery machines from different eras and a punching and drawing room.

Founded

2018

Operated by

Verein Stickerei – Museum. Archiv. Kommunikation (S-MAK)

Director

Daniela Fetz-Mages

Admission & discounts

Free admission also for association members, school classes from Vorarlberg (up to age 20) and groups of apprentices from Vorarlberg vocational and technical schools.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Assistance dogs are allowed.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide

With the mediation trolley “Bobby” and materials for drawing, crafting and designing, children accompanied by adults explore the permanent exhibition. Programmes for kindergartens, workshops for young people, and participation in “Reiseziel Museum” and the holiday programme “School is out”.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Small shop with publications on the history of embroidery and souvenirs; drinks for a break.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit