Maria Antonia Räss: Vom Appenzell in die grosse Welt | Historische Schweizer Unternehmer*innen #112

How does the daughter of a goat-farming family in remote Appenzell become a global entrepreneur whose name shines on Fifth Avenue in New York? Maria Räss was a fascinating woman who not only possessed extraordinary talent for embroidery but also redefined the boundaries of what seemed possible at the time. Even at the age of four, Maria demonstrated exceptional talent: she threaded the finest needles and embroidered ornaments that soon not only contributed to her family's livelihood but also made her the youngest show embroiderer in Europe. At just 16, she was accepted into the Guild of Show Embroiderers and traveled the continent before making a bold decision at the age of 27: "I go west!" Arriving in New York, her success story began. With a visionary entrepreneurial spirit, Maria first opened a small broderie shop, which grew rapidly and eventually led her to Rockefeller Center. Here she established a luxurious atelier that soon became a haunt for high society. But Maria had bigger ambitions: she became an ambassador for Appenzell embroidery overseas, building a network that united craftsmanship from around the world—from China to Madeira to Mexico—in her creations. And, as a bonus, she was best friends with Walt Disney and Coco Chanel. At 40, Maria Räss Antonia stood at the helm of a global empire, whose MRA label represents the highest quality and timeless elegance. In this podcast, we delve into the life story of a woman who was far ahead of her time. P.S.: We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Margit Schriber, author of the wonderful book "Die Stickerin" (2024, Bilgerverlag Zurich), who provided us with advice and answers to all our questions about Maria Antonia Räss. Anyone wanting to learn more about Maria A. Räss will find the book based on her story invaluable: https://www.bilgerverlag.ch/index.php... Want to learn more about historical Swiss entrepreneurs? Subscribe to the Alan Frei newsletter here: https://www.alanfrei.com/newsletter Or follow us on all major social media platforms: LinkedIn:   / alanfrei   TikTok:   / alanfrei   Instagram:   / alanfrei   YouTube:    / @alanfrei   X: https://x.com/alan_frei/