Historical Development

The history of SCHIESSER spans from the company's foundation in 1875 in Radolfzell on Lake Constance to today's brand. The following chronology summarises the most important milestones.

Foundation and rise (1875–1913)

1875 – The 27-year-old Swiss factory owner Jacques Schiesser and his wife Malwine rent a dancing hall in the still-standing guesthouse "Schwert" in Radolfzell and begin producing their knitwear on just nine circular looms.

1876–1880 – Construction and occupation of a small "factory for tricot weaving and dyeing" in Radolfzell. The workforce grows from 100 to 280 employees. The export markets in the Near East, India, China and Japan are opened up.

1880–1896 – Expansion through branches in Stockach (1890), Bucharest (1894) and Engen (1896). The number of employees rises to over 600; even workers from Italy are employed as skilled staff become scarce in Germany.

1900 – At the Paris World Exhibition, Jacques Schiesser receives the "Grand Prix" for specialities such as braided tricot, damask tricot, hardening garments from ramie linen and long-striped knitwear. Daily production reaches 12,000 pieces, 80 % of which are exported worldwide. SCHIESSER now employs nearly 1,000 people plus over 300 home workers and runs its own bleaching, dyeing and finishing facilities.

1913 – Jacques Schiesser dies of heart failure on 18 August. The company passes to his wife Malwine; his son-in-law Wilhelm Finckh takes over its management with 1,200 employees.

Wars, crises and a fresh start (1914–1949)

1914 – World War I. Production is converted to army supplies and cut off from the export markets. Due to the difficult supply of raw materials, attempts are made to produce fabrics from nettle fibres and paper yarn.

1915 – After the death of Wilhelm Finckh, Jacques Schiesser's nephew Jean Schiesser takes over the management.

1916 – The company is converted into a joint-stock company and now trades as SCHIESSER AG.

1918 – End of World War I; the workforce had shrunk to 360 employees during the war.

1922 – End of a difficult period: the company can again offer 800 employees a secure job.

1923 – Due to inflation and the global economic crisis, parts of the company have to be closed; the number of employees falls to 500.

1929 – SCHIESSER AG switches to short-time work and has to make further redundancies due to a lack of orders.

1930–1931 – Shutdown of the branch offices in Engen and Stockach.

1932 – Just short of total collapse, the company is rescued with help from Switzerland; a laborious rebuilding begins.

1933 – Economic recovery and a workforce increase to 600 employees. Acquisition of the children's underwear factory in Radolfzell (Leibchenfabrik), later named "Tausendsassa-Spezialfabrik".

1936 – Jean Schiesser steps down as manager and board member. Walter Schellenberg – the first company head from outside the Schiesser family – takes his place.

1939 – Outbreak of World War II.

1940 – The workforce has risen again to 1,100 employees. The course of the war brings drastic changes, emergency programmes and finally war production – the by then established "Schiesser fashion" falls victim to the war.

Post-war years – Production is almost completely halted due to a lack of raw materials; the workforce shrinks to 500. The bomb-damaged factory in Stockach is rebuilt using 160 tons of scrap in the form of old sewing machines. In the 1950s the term of the German "Fräuleinwunder" emerges, to which SCHIESSER later dedicated its own underwear series. It stood for the young, attractive and self-confident women of post-war Germany.

Reconstruction and expansion (1950–1975)

1950 – 75th anniversary – Renewed upswing: annual production reaches 2.7 million pieces of tricot goods with an annual turnover of nearly 13 million DM. The company again employs 1,000 people. Construction of a new factory in Engen and the launch of branches in Mimmenhausen and Rielasingen.

1951 – Jean Schiesser dies at the age of 80.

1960 – The company employs 3,500 people.

1962 – Formation of the Neustadt branch in the Black Forest, new production sites in Switzerland and Greece, and the founding of SCHIESSER Netherlands.

1966 – A new factory with 32,000 m² is built in Radolfzell. A sales company is founded in Milan, and new production sites are created in Greece, Ireland, Austria and Switzerland, plus a new factory in Waldshut.

1967 – Founding of a further sales company in Belgium.

1971 – SCHIESSER makes the leap into full clothing: after acquiring Standop GmbH and the Hudson textile works, it becomes market leader in printed knitted fabrics and builds its own fabric printing works to ensure quality.

1975 – 100 years – The company looks back on 14 years of unbroken expansion. SCHIESSER AG produces 38 million pieces of underwear a year and achieves an annual turnover of 437 million DM. The sales network is reorganised, the end consumer moves into focus and the company develops into a marketing and sales business.

SCHIESSER today

Early 1990s – Through the economic aftermath of German reunification and the opening up of new markets, turnover grows to 555 million DM. The brand's presence spreads to over 30 countries.

Today – The headquarters on Lake Constance focuses on marketing, sales, product development and innovation. As one of the market leaders among German underwear manufacturers, the company counts more than 6,500 retailers among its customers. The SCHIESSER brand has become synonymous with the garments that are, literally, closest to people. With effect from 20 October 2021, SCHIESSER AG became SCHIESSER GmbH.

Underwear from this tradition of more than 150 years is available today as SCHIESSER underwear in our range.

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