Merz b. Schwanen
Established 1911Around 1850, when the ground in the German Swabian Mountains became increasingly infertile, the government distributed hand knitting machines to farmers so that they could earn their money with knitting. These circular knitting machines produced cotton products which were much more comfortable than the linen underwear common at the time. Since these days, garment production is a tradition in this part of Germany. Balthasar Merz founded his clothing manufactory ‘Merz b. Schwanen’ in 1911, with the profession being carried through several generations of his family until the company was closed eventually.
The descendants of Balthasar Merz allowed Peter Plotnicki to use the brand name in order to carry on the family’s tradition and history. Plotnicki revived the old way of crafting clothes, using authentic machines that leave their individual trait on each fabric they produce, which ultimately results in the individuality of every single garment: an irregular weaving pattern without a side seam. The henley shirt, a button bordered t-shirt initially worn by rowers from Henley-on-Thames, is his most iconic piece.
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