was born in Millan, near Bressanone, but at the tender age of 23 took
over the small haberdashery shop in Bolzano from her aunt Zenz Öttl.
Therese worked in the shop most of her life, supported by two apprentices,
sisters Kreszenz and Anna Kaufmann. In 1921, as she didn’t
have children, Therese decided to give her store and, with it, her
surname, to the “Gasser Gals” – her employees. In 1972, Anna’s niece,
Gertraud Sauer, née Kaufmann, took over the business after having
spent part of her married life in Munich and having acquired considerable
experience selling leather clothes. The small shop has been
run by women for the equivalent of four generations and became
Gertraud’s pride and joy – so much so she only stopped going in every
day at the ripe old age of 90! In 2011, her son Wolfgang Sauer stepped
up to oversee the business’ administration while two women still
advise and help clients find what they need in keeping with tradition.