Merz b. Schwanen Interview – Just Old Machines, or Loopwheelers?
Merz b. Schwanen in its current form is not that old. But behind the current brand is a long history dating back to 1911. Starting in 2011, Peter and Gitta Plotnicki introduced the first line of the contemporary Merz b. Schwanen line at the Bread and Butter trade show in Berlin, Germany and have gone through many iterations of their knits to bring to realization the current popular knits – 1950s tees, 206 henleys, 207 short-sleeve henleys – in their current format. Keeping with the original Merz family name, Peter and Gitta have sought to honor the history of the original company in their business approach and clothing designs, while seeking to find their fit in the modern day industry. We love Merz b. Schwanen’s knits, not just because of the loopwheel fabric’s quality and unique hand, but also because of the passion they have for what they do. We had the opportunity in late 2018 to visit Merz b. Schwanen at their office in Berlin, Germany where they shared a little more details about their history, the intricacies of loopwheel manufacturing, and how it is to operate a business as a husband and wife.
