This year I’ve been honored to participate in read-throughs and a press screening of a new play celebrating dirndls and German heritage.
Last spring a long-time student of mine introduced me to Kristen Caven who was finalizing an original play called The Dirndl Diaspora. It was written to celebrate the long running Oaktoberfest in Oakland, California. And it indeed does bring modern viewpoints smashing into traditional folk wear fashion of Bavaria but with very much local flavor as well.
Eventually becoming an animated feature film and with its online debut on October 17, 2020, The Dirndl Diaspora follows a dressmaker, Savannah, who made a custom USA flag-inspired dirndl for Zendaya, who was featured in Teen Vogue. Now, Savannah finds herself being flooded with custom orders for more “dirndl mashups” and the challenge of creating a business from the new demand. While fitting a Scottish dirndl on a friend, local clients and reporters drop in to discuss her new opportunity, beer, cultural issues, and, of course, dirndls in imaginative designs.
The play features a variety of women all with a love of dirndls and recognizing their German heritage, whether through family or simple love of the culture. Personally that’s what I love about dirndls…. being able to celebrate dirndl history yet invoking our our personality into their modern fashion trends.
Kristen created the hashtag #DirndlDiversity to promote her play, and I love it as it is truly how I see dirndl making and wearing today. We each have our own varied opinions of why we love dirndls, but it’s our celebration of the Bavarian/Oktoberfest culture that brings us together.
For the premier of The Dirndl Diaspora, Kristen put together an online dirndl contest – fun! I was honored to be a “celebrity” judge and was delighted with the many entries. You can see the creativity on the Facebook event page. Also, follow The Dirndl Diaspora Facebook page for more discussions on dirndl diversity.
To see the film online through November 15, 2020, visit Kristen’s website page for tickets.
All photos in this post by Kristen Caven.
If you’re interested in making your own dirndl, the extensive online Dirndl Sewing Workshop is open for student enrollment now! I’m looking forward to seeing your own creative dirndl!
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