CLAUDIA HAGN
My international experiences
Working where nobody wants to go
What I love most about my original job as a graphic textile designer specializing in jacquard weaving is the possible areas of application in which I can carry out my work. Even as a child, I always had great wanderlust and was desperate to discover the world. As a young woman, I came a little closer to the dream, because at that time I was working as a studio manager in a medium-sized weaving mill in Germany. A fitter from the jacquard machine manufacturer would occasionally visit us. Whenever he was in the company, I listened intently and admired his many international adventures and experiences. It was crystal clear to me that I also wanted to see real life and work in production in faraway places. Despite all the doom and gloom from my family - because "you're a woman and you can't go to dangerous countries" - I still went through with it:
After 10 years as an employee, in order to learn as much as possible in practice, I founded my own international fabric development office (design and technical development for jacquard fabrics). The studio became internationally known and recommended. So my one-woman show became a design and technology office with 14 permanent and freelance employees, based in Hamburg and Turkey.
I tell the whole exciting story in my podcast on my textile website www.textile-concepts.com . It's worth registering there!
Below I will give you some small insights into the most important countries where I regularly carried out my work.
Türkiye
My first job from abroad came in 1997 from Turkey – Denizli. The task of the medium-sized company for me was to train and support the employees in design and collection matters.
Turkey has always played a role in my career as a jacquard expert. I trained employees there and eventually supplied a larger design studio with orders in the jacquard technique.
The photo shows me visiting a jacquard weaving mill in Bursa. Next to me is the company owner and former colleague of mine from my time at Christian Dierig GmbH in Augsburg.
Syria
The most exciting and impressive commission came from Syria. The owners of a beautiful medium-sized weaving mill invited me to Aleppo. The job: to create elegant designs and jacquard fabrics based on Italian models.
At first I felt a little queasy, but I really wanted the job and to see the country! So I took the plunge and was in Syria again and again at regular intervals. Unforgettable!
This photo shows me in the company – somewhere in the desert, outside of Aleppo. Behind me is the company director. He, his brother and their families became good friends of mine. I even wanted to live and work there permanently for a while, but unfortunately the war came and destroyed everything.
South Africa
This was followed by a longer assignment in Cape Town. A medium-sized weaving mill belonging to a European group had hired me as a lecturer. I was there several times a year for a few weeks, teaching their three designers and technicians the theory of weaving mattress jacquard fabrics.
The trips were actually considerably more dangerous than in pre-war Syria, because street crime should not be underestimated. There were some dangerous situations during my stay. On occasion, I wasn't quite sure whether I would fly back home...
One day, I was surprised to receive an offer to join the company permanently and take over the management of the studio. I turned down the offer because of my constant concerns about safety. Unfortunately, the magic of nature was not enough to outweigh this fact for me.
China
A Chinese agency looking for European designers for collaborations contacted me from Shanghai. They offered me the opportunity to take part in a designer sales project: they were looking for the best European fabric designers to introduce them to Chinese companies.
So I travelled to China several times with other designers from England, Holland, Italy and Germany to exhibit at trade fairs and visit huge textile companies.
On one of my trips, I came across a dog and adventurously rescued a poor street dog on an island near Hong Kong. That was a curious undertaking that continues to have a strong influence on my life today.
Fortunately, because dogs enrich life immensely!
West Africa
Among other things, I specialise in clothing damasks for Africa – the so-called African damasks. These are high-quality and expensive damask fabrics that are elaborately woven in Europe and then exported to West Africa. There they are dyed by hand and finished in a very special way to give them the necessary ‘crunch’.
African traders then sell them to wealthy Africans. I visited Mali and Senegal with my clients to see the African customers and dyers and analyse the latest trends.
The women must have thought a Martian had landed when they saw me. The lady next to me quickly moved over to me when she realised I was being photographed. She absolutely had to be in the picture with me. I only saw who was sitting next to me afterwards. :)
India
I have particularly close ties with India. Many good textile companies came and come from there, engaging me as a designer, marketing and sales manager. Most recently, I was even employed full-time by a company in Mumbai: as General Manager Europe Sales to build their European headquarters.
From time to time, it is always a challenging task for an emancipated German woman to direct the gentlemen of other cultures diplomatically so that what European customers want is delivered. But I have always been able to command the necessary respect. Otherwise, a lot of patience and intercultural understanding helps.
Friendships have developed here too. For example, I was invited to a yoga resort in the Himalayas by a customer and even received an audience with a politician and animal rights activist, Maneka Ghandi, former Minister for Women and Child Development of the Republic of India.
Pakistan
Where there is India, Pakistan is not far away. During my long career in the textile industry, I have repeatedly had dealings with Pakistani producers. I am used to negotiating with them and discussing customer orders. Thanks to my extensive expertise and professionalism, I have always been able to gain the attention and respect of these very patriarchal businessmen.
However, there were also some strange business meetings, for example when the bearded and baggy-trousered company owner with a turban constantly stared at the table when he spoke to me because he was not allowed to look at a woman. Or another extreme: a job interview with over 20 Pakistani men, all sitting around a huge table with me, looking at me intently as I gave my presentation.
Yes, as a woman you have to be able to keep your cool... luckily I can and in such situations I am more amused than stressed or offended. In fact, a sense of humour is essential if you are a woman working exclusively with men. ;-)
A small selection of
References:
Tom Tailor
Benetton
Vossen
Bosch
Deutsche Bundeswehr
From 2008, I developed my own brands and patents, which I registered and marketed internationally. It was only by licensing my first themed collection ‘Created in Hell’ to Essenza Homes that I was able to supply Otto Versand and other major retailers. Later, I set up my own marketing and sales office to market and sell further and external brand collections.
In this context, however, I owe the greatest attention of the worldwide media to the legendary themed collection ‘Created in Hell’. So, a few interviews, TV and newspaper reports were published about the collection and me. Not only in Germany, but also in Turkey, India and even in the New York Textile Magazine.
For this red-black cult collection, I also wrote a profound metaphor about a cat that wanders through hell and meets its soul there. I also read it as an audiobook. The accompanying paintings, art prints and sculptures can be purchased in the online art gallery of Artmajeur.com.
Other theme world collections from me: ‘Colours of Heaven’ / ‘Claudia Hagn Exclusive’ / ‘Style Dog - Design with strays’
As a result of this extensive expertise in the areas of textile development, marketing, branding and sales, I was eventually offered a permanent position as General Manager Europe Sales of the Indian group Welspun Global Brands. My task was to develop the European market in the area of retail and hotel furnishings.
And so everything is connected.
The basis for everything is creativity, a willingness to learn and courage!
You notice, my life is
Therefore, you will see below - in monthly rotation - my paintings, art prints and sculptures, which are sold through the online art gallery Artmajeur. You can also read or listen to the respective stories of how they came about in the podcast.
Acrylic painting ‘Bomb!’ from 1992 in a digital rework from 2024.
(My career began with a bomb. Read the story of how it came about. Accessible via the button below.)
My own brands
&
television experiences
ZDF / VOX / RTL / DMAX
My other websites:
Design concepts for
professional
Marketing, Branding & Sales
design and technology studio for fabric developments
www.artmajeur.com/claudia-hagn
Online Art Gallery - Profile Claudia Hagn
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Claudia Hagn
Haldesdorfer Str. 14
22179 Hamburg
Germany
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