How the dirndl has caught the eye of fashion and is becoming popular

Fashion designer Vivienne Westwood once said, "If every woman wore a dirndl, there would be no more ugliness in the world." Photo: AFP

The humble Alpine "dirndl" dress, with its distinctive white blouse, full skirt and apron, has won new fans among Austrians and foreign fashionistas alike in recent years.

Its folksy appeal has now made the historic dirndl and other traditional outfits a key part of Austria's clothing industry, about 70 percent of which is exported, according to the Chamber Of Commerce.