Merz b. Schwanen is a historic German clothing brand founded in 1911 by Balthasar Merz in the Swabian Alps. Originally producing high-quality loopwheel knitwear, the brand thrived for decades but closed in 2008 due to global competition.

In 2011, designers Peter and Gitta Plotnicki rediscovered an original Merz Henley at a Berlin flea market and revived the brand, preserving traditional manufacturing methods. They partnered with one of the last textile factories in Albstadt that still operated vintage loopwheel machines—slow, precise knitting machines that create soft, durable fabric without side seams.

Merz b. Schwanen now produces timeless, high-quality basics in Germany using organic materials, blending heritage craftsmanship with modern sustainability. Inspired by early 20th-century workwear, each piece is designed in Berlin—paying homage to the past while meeting today’s demand for authenticity and quality.