Guben, a city in the eastern part of the Federal Land Brandenburg, is one of the world-wide place most rich in tradition for the production of cloth and hats.

The history of the hat industry of Guben is connected closely with production of the cloth, which has already existed in the Middle Ages in Guben.

At that time the cloth industry like the hat industry needed the favourable local conditions like outstanding specialists (master craftsmen in several generations), best sheep wool and the soft water of the river Neisse.

In 1847 hatter Carl Gottlob Wilke laid the foundations for the world-wide importance of place Guben with the invention of weather-proof wool felt hat.

In the 20’s and 30’s of the last century production reached its largest expansion. Hat works of Guben (“Gubener Hutwerke”) belonged to the world market leaders. 6 Mio. of hats a year was produced in a world-wide unique quality with ca. 7.000 employees.

At that time predominant part of production was exported. A large part of fez worn by men in eastern Mediterranean came from Guben, for example (Union-Fez-Fabrik GmbH).

The city Guben advertised with the saying: “Gubener Tuche, Gubener Hüte weltbekannt für ihre Güte” - “Cloth and hats of Guben are known all over the world because of their quality”.

The know-how in the processing of wool felt was so high that during the Second World War mainly caps and coats were produced for the German armed forces exclusively.