Christian Fischbacher - USA -- Company History

THE BEGINNING

Christian Fischbacher company is almost 200 years old.

In 1819, the 16-year old Christian Fischbacher from St.Peterzell, a small village in the mountains of Toggenburg, Switzerland, lays the foundation of his career and the company’s future. He selects the best of the hand-woven and embroidered fabrics made in the villages surrounding St.Peterzell, and carries them for sale to the textile market in St.Gallen. He creates a name for himself and the high quality of his goods. With continuing strong demand for his wares, the young Fischbacher decides to buy yarn and have it woven for him in the villages, according to his specifications. Soon, he can afford to buy a horse with a carriage, which enables him to greatly enlarge his business, and, at the age of 27, he rents a warehouse in St.Gallen and moves his company there.

What began as a small trading operation in 1819 has, thanks to the entrepreneurial spirit and farsightedness of generations of Fischbachers, today become a globally active textile company. The name Christian Fischbacher is now a brand recognized around the world.

FAMILY HISTORY

1819	The 16-year old Christian Fischbacher from St.Peterzell, a small village in the mountains of Toggenburg, Switzerland, lays the foundation of his career and the company’s future.
1830	He rents his first warehouse in the town of St.Gallen.
1845	His son Christian is born.
1874	Otto Fischbacher, the founder’s grandson is born. The continuing expansion of the company leads to the purchase of business premises in the city.
1914	The company is already involved in international trade. 1st World War, however, means disaster for the economy of Europe as a whole, and the company, as well. Christian Fischbacher manages to lead the company through these difficult years.
1915	Christian Fischbacher is born in the 4th generation.
1929	Otto Fischbacher has to lead the company through the hard years following the stock market crash.
1938	Christian H. Fischbacher is born in the 5th generation.
1939	Before the beginning of World War II, Christian Fischbacher moves with his family to New York, where he founds the first subsidiary company in the firm’s history. He runs the company for 12 years.
1951	Otto Fischbacher hands over the management of the business to his son Christian after he returned from the USA.
1960	Christian Fischbacher creates contacts with the Parisian Haute Couture. In the 60’s and 70’s, subsidiary companies are founded all over Europe and in Japan, in particular for the sale of interior fabrics.
1970	Michael Fischbacher is born in the 6th generation.
1983	Christian Fischbacher hands over the management of the firm to his first-born, Christian H. Fischbacher, who continues to lead the international group.
1998	The company’s new headquarters in St.Gallen-Winkeln are completed.

THE PEOPLE

Worldwide, over 450 employees contribute to the success of our company. From the creation of our collections in the design-studio to the production, stocking and distribution of our products, we rely on the dedication of our people. As a team, we achieve the high level of performance that we guarantee our customers.

We are a family company. And we want our employees to feel like members of the family. Because they are.

“A brand is alive, and it is kept alive by the people who stand behind it.”

TRADE FAIRS AND EVENTS

We participate in the important international trade fairs of the industry, i.e:

Heimtextil Frankfurt, Germany
La Biennale Paris, France
Incontri, Italy
Decorex London, England
Interio Gent, Holland
Maison d’Objet, France

We also participate and organize events all over Europe, America and Japan, where we present our collections and cultivate our customer contacts.

Our showrooms serve also as a platform for cultural events and seminars on architecture, design and philosophy.