150 years ago, the inventor and mother of seven Pauline Zimmerli founded the eponymous company. Today, strong women continue to shape Zimmerli – such as Laetitia Wollschlegel, Head of Product Management.

Pauline Zimmerli (1829-1914) was a knitter, entrepreneur, inventor and mother at the same time. As the mother of seven children, Pauline Zimmerli ran the business and at the same time invented a knitting machine that fundamentally changed the textile industry. It was now possible to produce ribbed knitted and thus elastic underwear by machine and in significantly higher quantities. Thus Pauline Zimmerli developed a new completely new branch of industry, made fine underwear possible for a wide range of buyers and created new jobs in Switzerland.

Pauline Zimmerli and her invention that revolutionized the textile industry.

An icon is born

Pauline's signature is still recognizable today. Her famous double rib made it all the way to Hollywood. Classics from the Richelieu line, which is handmade in Switzerland, are worn in numerous Hollywood films and embody style and maximum comfort at the same time. Thus, the tank top became a worldwide icon and shines not only as an undershirt, but can be mixed with any outfit.

The Iconic: The Richelieu tank top for men.

Zimmerli, shaped by women for 150 years

Without women, Zimmerli would not be what it is today. Icons and masterpieces are only created through careful and passionate development. From the manufactory to the management team, women exude the special Zimmerli feeling along the entire value chain and thus shape products and the customer experience every day.

Marija Kaspar, Head of Design, develops products at Zimmerli with full passion.

With precise craftsmanship, our seamstresses create new masterpieces every day at the Swiss factory in Mendrisio.

At Zimmerli, passion becomes a profession. Whether in the sewing studio or in the design department, a large number of motivated and energetic women create their own personal professional success story in the company and are proud of it. Laetitia Wollschlegel, for example. As Head of Product Management, she has been developing the brand for ten years and shares her career story with the SWONET Swiss Women Network Foundation.

To the interview

For ten years, Laetitia Wollschlegel has been shaping Zimmerli's product line in product management.

From the development to the creation of the products: Since the founding by Pauline Zimmerli, women shape the success story Zimmerli. Thanks to passion and enthusiasm, icons and masterpieces are created that have delighted customers in Hollywood, Switzerland and around the world for 150 years.