Merz b Schwanen

Merz b. Schwanen was founded in 1911 by Balthasar Merz in Germany's Swabian Alps, making loopwheeled workers' shirts and undergarments. Berlin-based designers Gitta and Peter Plotnicki found an old Henley from the label at a flea market, followed it to a retired factory floor of century-old loopwheelers, and set about reviving both the machines and the brand. Their first collection came in 2011. THE ORIGINALS draws on workers' clothing from the 1920s, 30s and 40s, refined for today, and the loopwheeled fabrics are still made in Germany on those old machines. Since 2016 a family-run manufacturer in Portugal has made a second range with newer colours and organic and recycled materials. Henleys, T-shirts and sweatshirts are the core.