Yes, they still exist, although they have become somewhat of a rarity: companies such as BRULI, who don’t simply print ‘Swiss made’ on their labels but actually mean it – 100%. The story behind this Ticino-based shirt manufactory is fascinating: BRULI was founded in 1961 and grew quickly, soon becoming a flourishing textile company with 180 employees, until the 1990s when globalisation caused everything in the textile industry to change. Marco Brülisauer had taken over his parents’ business and decided to create an opportunity from the crisis and follow a de-liberate strategy: no outsourcing of production abroad, no price wars, no compromises. Instead he chose to put his faith in the highest quality for an appreciative clientele. Today, BRULI is the only Swiss textile manufacturer whose production takes place exclusively in Switzerland. Every single work step in making a finished shirt takes place at the company’s own manufactory in Stabio, a small municipality between Lugano and Como. The slim French seams, the perfectly sitting collar and the carefully edged buttonholes show a love of detail and a passion for artistic handicraft. To ensure absolute precision in the cutting process, the company has invested in state-of-the-art machines – naturally also Swiss made. Every fabric is carefully hand-selected – here too, the company puts its trust in small, regional weaving mills in neighbouring northern Italy, where the same uncompromising standards of quality prevail. A winning formula: these exclusive luxury shirts, which are individually made to order in limited numbers, have become a coveted insider tip.
'What leaves our hands was never in anyone else's.'
Marco Brülisauer, Owner & CEO of B R U L I
They represent the perfect blend of effortless elegance and a sporty aesthetic: once you put on a shirt like the Swiss Vintage Camogli featured above, you’ll never want to part with it – and you will want to hang a few more in your wardrobe in other elegant colours. Or perhaps you’ll fall in love with other styles from the BRULI Collection such as the Swiss Vintage Bordighera polo shirt, which is made from the finest two-ply cotton. A touch of understated elegance defines the luxurious quality of this short-sleeved shirt; its clean aesthetic is interrupted only by three white Australian mother-of-pearl buttons. The soft weave with its silky finish exudes timeless elegance while its naturally breathable qualities ensure exceptional comfort – even on hot summer days. It illustrates the impressive way in which the BRULI manufactory turns precision into beauty. The fact that this kind of excellence and a genuine ‘Swiss made’ origin has a certain price tag is self-evident. Yet it is precisely this superb quality that makes the investment worthwhile: a shirt that involves three hours of meticulous handwork, is made of fabric from precious natural materials, copes with repeated washing and ironing without losing its shape or colour puts the price into perspective – and represents the epitome of sustainability. We would like to mention at this point that BRULI also has an exclusive ladies collection. Marco Brülisauer stays true to the principle of top-class Swiss handmade artistry. ‘The most important thing is to offer the best quality and service. Then our customers will be satisfied and will come back.’ For our part, we can confirm that he fulfils both requirements.
B R U L I & HOCHEDEL a tailored partnership
Working exclusively with BRULI, HOCHEDEL presents two carefully selected product series.
hochedel.ch – well worth discovering
