We Used to Weave Ribbons

• Prize
  Gold in Architecture/Industrial
• Photographer
  Daniel Haeker

Until the 1970s, ribbon weaving was a very important branch of industry in the city of Wuppertal in Germany and one of the main foundations of the city's wealth. However, globalization, modern technologies, the use of new materials and general structural change made the classical fabrication of ribbons all but obsolete, leaving a once prospering industry in shambles. To this day, there are abandoned ribbon weaving factories to be found in Wuppertal, and when I managed to enter such a factory, I found much of the machinery in a state as if decades ago someone just had pulled the plug.

Born and raised in Berlin. Studied law in Berlin, timpani and percussion in Essen, Copenhagen and Duesseldorf. Professional timpanist and percussionist, permanent member of the Wuppertal Symphony. Took up photography in 2007 while on tour with the orchestra, hooked ever since. Main photographic subjects include people, nude, architecture and landscape photography. Avid traveller and travel photographer.