Merz b. Schwanen

Specializing in high-quality loopwheeled cotton jersey, Merz b. Schwanen was originally founded in 1911 by Balthasar Merz, and manufactured "workers undergarments" (including t-shirts and henleys) all the way until 2005. Just a handful of years later, fashion designers Gitta and Peter Plotnicki came across a vintage 1911 workers henley at a Berlin flea market, leading them on a search for its origins, and the brand's revival.

This quest led them to Albstadt in Southern Germany's Swabian Alps range, a textile manufacturing hub of past years, which is where they came across an entire factory of unused loopwheel knitting machines dating from the late 19th century to the mid 20th century. After learning of the Plotnicki's plans to reproduce authentic loopwheeled undergarments in Germany again, Balthasar's descendants graciously offered them the use of the Merz b. Schwanen name, perfectly marrying this triad of passionate reproduction, vintage machinery, and Merz b. Schwanen's rich history. 

We recommend to size up from your usual t-shirt size for Merz, as the fits are quite vintage inspired, and fit pretty slim as a result.