Embroidery is the result of a careful interplay between creative vision, textile expertise, and precise engineering. Each piece presents unique challenges, mastered through more than 120 years of accumulated savoir-faire.
Design Development
The designers in St.Gallen develop multiple collections each year, aligned with the rhythms of international clientele cycles. Inspirations emerge from diverse sources, including contemporary exhibitions, modern art, literature, global trends, and the extensive Forster Willi archive. Impressions become concepts, and concepts evolve into textile works of art. The personal touch and distinct signature of each designer remain evident, granting every embroidery its unmistakable authenticity.
Technical Presicion
After a designer completes a handcrafted sketch, the design is first translated into a technical drawing using CAD software. This is followed by the process known as punching, during which each line and stitch is programmed—still largely by hand—on the computer so that the embroidery machine can execute the design with absolute accuracy. The term punching originates from the era of punched cards, once used to control embroidery machines. Today, punching converts the handcrafted sketch into a digital embroidery file whose coordinates precisely guide machines working with fabric lengths of up to 15 meters.
Industrial Production
Once colors are defined and fabrics and threads selected, production can begin. The embroidery process is carried out on machines entirely set up by hand. Threads are carefully threaded, the base material is meticulously attached to a stabilizer, and the fabric is tensioned with precision. After stitching, each embroidery undergoes finishing treatments: it is is washed, steamed, trimmed, or enhanced using state-of-the-art laser technology. Smaller quantities are produced in St.Gallen, while larger runs are manufactured at the Forster Group’s fully owned international facilities.
Artisanal Quality Control
In the final stage, our quality team meticulously inspects every detail by hand before the embroidery reaches our clients. Some members of the finishing team have been with Forster Willi for decades, and in certain cases, they continue a family tradition, following in the footsteps of parents who were also part of the company. This depth of knowledge and long-standing experience defines the care, precision, and excellence inherent in Forster Willi embroidery.
