After the Swiss Post issued Thermoink stamps about a year ago as a tribute to the Swiss abroad, another stamp with a special reference to swiss traditions is now being released – featuring an extraordinary technical production process.
Swiss Edelweiss shirt by Atelier Jenny (Swiss Made), photographed in Zurich on Wednesday, August 21, 2013. (KEYSTONE/Gaetan Bally) (Image: CHRISTIAN HUNKELER/SDA)
Just in time for the triennial Federal Wrestling and Alpine Festival (ESAF) 2025, taking place from August 29 to 31 in the Glarus region, Swiss Post has issued a very special commemorative stamp. With it, Swiss Post brings together tradition, innovation, and Swiss identity in the smallest of spaces. The Edelweiss shirt, with its characteristic light blue fabric and white edelweiss blossoms, has long been more than just a piece of clothing. Since the 1970s, it has been standard attire for Swiss wrestlers (Schwinger) and symbolizes resilience, authenticity, and a deep sense of cultural belonging. The fact that this shirt has now been honored with its own stamp not only delights collectors, but also offers a fresh, tangible experience of Swiss culture – even if it has already stirred up a bit of a storm in a teacup.
What makes this special stamp so unique? By combining offset printing with flocked areas, the stamp features a raised, velvety texture in certain spots, while other parts retain the smooth surface typical of offset printing. This makes the stamp a tactile experience as well. Thanks to the close collaboration with the Jenni family of Märithüsli AG in Brienzwiler, who provided the original fabric sample, and with Pascale Hoch from St. Gallen, who co-developed the design, it’s ensured that the stamp not only looks authentic but is genuinely based on the traditional original.
Another sophisticated design choice: the stamp deliberately forgoes the usual white border. As a result, it looks like an actual piece of fabric—not like a classic postage stamp, but rather as if it were cut directly from a genuine Edelweiss shirt. The Edelweiss pattern extends all the way to the perforated edges, enhancing both the visual and tactile realism. This effect is especially striking in the sheet of ten stamps: the seamless transition from one stamp to the next makes it appear almost like a continuous strip of fabric. The stamps do not stand alone but form part of a larger textile composition—a successful visual bridge between craftsmanship, clothing, and contemporary philately.
This issue is more than just a philatelic novelty – it’s a statement. A tribute to Swiss craftsmanship, folk culture, and the courage to explore new paths in stamp design. The Edelweiss shirt stamp is not only a collector’s item, but also a small piece of living Swiss identity – traditional, tactile, and innovative all at once.
Technical infos:
- Day of issue: 08.05.2025
- Sale period: until June 30, 2026, or while supplies last
- Printing: Offset printing, 4-color with flocking
- Printer: Cartor Security Printers, Meaucé-La Loupe, France
- Formats:
- Stamp: 35 × 35 mm
- Sheet of stamps: 210 × 115 mm; 2 rows of 5 stamps
- Paper: White stamp paper with optical brightener
- Gumming: Self-adhesive on backing paper, 196 g/m²
- Perforation: 13 × 13
- Designers: Samuel Jenni, Meiringen; Pascale Hoch, St. Gallen