2023-09-19 14:08:14
Paul Burkl hadn’t planned to swap his toolbox for a sewing machine. Two years ago, the then 21-year-old electrician set up his own fashion brand “Urside”. “It was never enough for me to have a normal job. I realized that I wanted more in life,” the young entrepreneur reflects. With Urside he wants to set an example for regional lifestyle fashion and against fast fashion: While other fashion companies move their production abroad, he carries out all the work steps himself – from cutting out the rolls of fabric to sewing them together. Instead of countless collections every year, Urside only has one per quarter.
He taught himself to tailor
The decision to become self-employed in fashion, of all things, was a coincidence. “I had never found clothes that I liked before. So I started sewing some for myself,” explains Burkl. Later, friends and acquaintances became aware of his hobbyhorse. As a result, demand for the self-taught tailor’s unique pieces increased. His mother showed him the first steps on the sewing machine, and he later obtained ongoing feedback from master tailors. And so around two and a half years passed until Urside was born.
Companies and clubs also rely on his clothing
Today the Henndorfer sells online and mainly to Germany and Austria. He has now also gained a foothold in the B2B sector and produces clothing for clubs and companies. The business is flourishing, but the beginning was difficult. “I had doubts, but that’s part of it. That should never be a reason to give up.”
The message makes a brand successful
Despite the challenges, the young entrepreneur stuck to his dream. This is also what his brand should convey: “Urside stands for striving for more in life, not giving up and daring to dream. Buyers should identify with this and feel more motivated as a result,” says the 23-year-old founder about his message . By the way, this is particularly important if you want your own brand to be a success: ideally, people should feel attracted to the product not only because of the quality, but also because of the attitude to life behind the product, he advises.
“Mistakes can be a game changer”
When it comes to Salzburg as a start-up location, Burkl draws a positive conclusion. The Chamber of Commerce or Start-Up Salzburg can be the first point of contact. At the latter he attended a start-up program himself. He also recommends not planning ahead, but rather implementing your plans in small steps. Mistakes are part of it: “You shouldn’t be afraid of mistakes. They’re never pleasant, but if you learn from them, they can become a game changer and help you move forward,” says the sole proprietor, who now wants to expand Urside to include a team . The brand from Salzburg will later become known worldwide.
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