Josephina Vos

Josephina Vos was born on April 27, 1790, in Lutheria as the oldest and only child. Her parents owned a small clothing & repair shop in the city of Lutheria (now Boutique Vos), which focused on everyday clothes and Sunday clothes. They also offered a repair service for all kinds of fabrics, except heavy materials like leather. Josephina grew up in the shop, mostly entertaining customers and helping her parents with simple repairs and needlework. As she grew older, Josephina started handling the desk and doing fittings. Meanwhile, she learned the trade from her parents. It became apparent that she had a keen eye for business and was sensitive to trends.   When Josephina turned eighteen, she assumed full control over the shop. In addition to every day and Sunday clothes, she also started with a few luxury pieces, which were in demand in the city of Lutheria. She renovated the shop from the inside and outside, making it more appealing to the higher classes. She made it a custom for her and her parents to wear the latest trends in the shop to attract people’s interest in their products.   Josephina likes to use local products to keep transport costs low and be less dependent on foreign events. Although the ongoing wars did impact demand and the availability of materials, she kept her business going by providing clothes for the military and doing more repair work. Her future husband, Antonius Lutz, was one of the providers of locally produced linen. Near the end of the Napoleonic Wars, the couple started dating, and after a short courtship, they wed on October 18, 1810, at St. Mary’s Chapel in Lutheria. Josephina provided the Lutz family with an extra income, especially during the tough winter months, from her shop, where she continued working, besides helping manage her husband’s estate.   The first few years, the couple lived a comfortable life as newlyweds. Although impacted by the hardships of the wars, they managed to provide a living for themselves, and the future looked bright when the Napoleonic Wars ended. However, in 1816, the eruption of Mount Tambora caused crop failures and famine all over the world. For years the farm was not able to provide new linen for the shop. Also, internationally, prices of fabrics skyrocketed because of this so-called “Year Without a Summer.” Food was scarce, and residents, especially from the cities, relied on the food stored by farmers, such as potatoes and preserved foods. Josephina and Antonius shared the food they had stored with the rest of the community. It took years before the harvests were stable again.   When the effects of the wars and the Year Without Summer settled, the couple started to think about the next generation. They wanted both the farm and the shop to continue after their passing. On February 8, 1822, Bernardus Lutz was born, and on May 5, 1826, Lisa Lutz was born. As was the custom, both children started working at a young age on the farm, and Lisa in her mother’s shop. Yet Lisa had no interest in fashion and would rather work on the farm than in her mother’s shop. Josephina tried to convince her, but Lisa declined the offer to work in and inherit the shop.   Luckily, Josephina found her apprentice in Helena Hahn, the wife of her son Bernardus. Helena loved working in the shop, especially interacting with customers and helping them find what they needed. Her natural charm and beauty boosted her sales. In 1861, after having helped Josephina in the shop for years, she quit her job at the Hospital of Lutheria and started working full-time in the shop, which she would inherit after Josephina’s passing.   Even in her senior years, Josephina has a natural beauty over her. Even at the farm, she wears fancy clothes and encourages her daughter-in-law and grandchildren to do so. She has long dark-grey hair, which she keeps in a bun, dark green-brown eyes and a soft smile. She loves to joke around and tease her much-beloved family.