HISTORY
On May 7, 1730 the authority of the Republic of Gersau, Mr. Sebastian Melchior Rigert, granted the approval to rot and wash silk on the Bachstatt am See. Rigert acted by order of Josef Augustin Reding from Schwyz, the real founder of Gersau's silk industry. The Schwyz authorities had denied Rigert the corresponding approval.
The first large silk factory was set up in the "Eggi" in 1846/47, followed by the one in the "Bläui" in 1859/60. The third factory, the "Seefabrik", was built as early as 1861. Large factory buildings were the result of the rapid mechanization of silk processing, which was based on waterpower. All three factories had been built along the village stream. The water flowing down from the Rigi mountain was needed to drive the machines, whereas the lake was the place where the raw material arrived as well as the place where the finished silk products were sent out.
The first large silk factory was set up in the "Eggi" in 1846/47, followed by the one in the "Bläui" in 1859/60. The third factory, the "Seefabrik", was built as early as 1861. Large factory buildings were the result of the rapid mechanization of silk processing, which was based on waterpower. All three factories had been built along the village stream. The water flowing down from the Rigi mountain was needed to drive the machines, whereas the lake was the place where the raw material arrived as well as the place where the finished silk products were sent out.
Several buildings added in 1939, 1948, 1953, 1990, 1996 and 2001 have concentrated industrial activities in one site, namely in the "Bläui". The silk spinning mill exists in Gersau since 1892 under the name of Camenzind & Cie. However, in 1994 the limited partnership was transformed into a joint-stock company and its name changed to Camenzind + Co. AG. The company manufactures high quality yarns from silk or silk blended with other natural fibers such as cashmere, wool, cotton, and camel hair.
All Camenzind, now called Swiss Mountain Silk, yarns are still manufactured in Switzerland, and then sent all over the world. They stand for continuously reliable high quality.
All Camenzind, now called Swiss Mountain Silk, yarns are still manufactured in Switzerland, and then sent all over the world. They stand for continuously reliable high quality.
SUSTAINABILITY & SWISS MOUNTAIN SILK
Swiss Mountain Silk pushes hard for sustainability:
- Oekotex 100 certificate
The Oeko-Tex 100 Standard comprehensively addresses the Human Ecology component of textile products. It evaluates and screens for any harmful substances present within processed textiles intended to come into contact with consumers.
Product Class I - Products for Babys: Products for babies are all articles, basic materials and accessories which are provided for the production of articles for babies and children up to the age of 36 months with the exception of leather clothing.
- climate neutral company
Swiss Mountain Silk deeply cares for the environment and wants to reduce CO2 emission by following measures:
- renovation and efficiency increase of our water power plant (goal: the new power plant will start the production until end of 2009)
- renovation of the existing production building (isolation of the outside walls to save heating energy)
- new CO2 neutral heating system (replacement of the existing oil heating)
- producing more energy efficient by making investments in new machines with less energy consumption
- taking part at the wind energy project Mad’Eole in Madagaskar. This project should prevent within during 15 years 31'500 tons of CO2 emissions. This project is a candidate of the „Gold Standard“ which is also supported by WWF.