Giesswein Clothing Elizabeth and Walter Giesswein Founded

Giesswein Clothing

Elizabeth and Walter Giesswein founded Giesswein Clothing in the year 1954. The company started small, serving only a limited number of private customers. Specifically Giesswein's products comprised mainly knitting at this time. The business however soon expanded through a combination of pioneering work and tradition. The small business began to grow and become a big success, with orders bringing in several hundred million Austrian Shillings per year. The Giesswein company's success enabled it to buy its first industrial milling machine in 1958, and new milling techniques were continually being developed. The result of this is among others the milled jacket, "Davos," which proved to be popular with buyers. Further product development included the Giesswein slipper socks in 1974, the women's combination collection in 1983, and the first independent kids' collection in 1985. In 1986 Giesswein expanded internationally, founding a sales office in Italy, and subsequently doing business in Spain, the United States and France. Since 1993 the Giesswein applique jacket has drawn big sales in Paris. Further developments and innovations include kids' leather shoes in 1994 and Giesswein silk milled fabric in 1995. Currently Giesswein's exports comprise 76% of its products, and 40 different countries are served through exports. The company processes 670 tons of wool per year, and more or less 300 persons are employed, making Giesswein Austria's biggest wool processing business.

In its product line Giesswein maintains its popularity through a unique approach to tradition and fashion. The traditional Tyrolean style is combined with current trends to create an absolutely original style. This shows that the creators of Giesswein make it their business to be aware not only of general fashion trends, but also of what is important regarding the clothing needs of people from all walks of life, and of all ages.