"Die Manufaktur" in portrait.
"Die Manufaktur transforms St.Gallen textiles into tailor-made unique pieces".
For around 13 years, "die Manufaktur, deine Schneiderei" has been making its mark on St.Gallen's city center with its tailoring. The store and the tailor's workshop are located at Bahnhofstrasse 8. Karin Bischoff has been at home in the textile scene since her childhood.
After training as a ladies' tailor, Karin worked in haute couture ateliers in Geneva and Zurich. Winning the gold medal at the "WorldSkills" vocational world championships in St.Gallen in 1997 changed a lot in Karin's career. This milestone gave her a lot of self-confidence and a lot of appreciation, she emphasizes.
After studying textile technology, she joined the family business Bischoff Textil AG. Karin not only worked in the textile industry in Switzerland, but also gained experience in America and Thailand. Karin Bischoff has been self-employed since 2006, because she felt the urge to set up something of her own.
In 2008, Karin participated in the "Sentis" project and thus met her current co-owner Kathrin Baumberger. The two have now been running "Die Manufaktur, deine Schneiderei" together for around 13 years.
"The St.Gallen textile industry is my home."
Karin Bischoff, Managing Director "Die Manufaktur"
Regional production comes first
The hand-sewn women's collection is manufactured entirely in the studio at Bahnhofstrasse 8. If a customer wishes a unique piece, this can be realized according to her wishes after several fitting appointments. For the men's tailoring we work together with European and regional companies, among others from Portugal and the St.Gallen Rhine Valley.
Whenever possible, all textiles are consciously sourced from the St.Gallen and Appenzell region. Sustainable commissioned work is important to Karin. The reuse of fabric scraps are processed in hair scrunchies (hair ties made of fabric) or in theater clothes.
"St.Gallen gives me a lot and I want to give something back."
Karin Bischoff, Managing Director "Die Manufaktur"
The passion was laid in her cradle
Karin has been part of the textile scene since she was a little girl. Her family owns the Bischoff Textil company and it is still one of the best-known textile companies in the city. From an early age, Karin was fascinated with sewing or knitting clothes herself. She learned the skills from her mother, who was very involved in handicrafts. St.Gallen is Karin's home and here she wants to make a mark with textile handicrafts.
With a view to the future
After the difficult two pandemic years as well as the current shortage of raw materials, Karin wishes for her business to get back into "swing". This includes regular contract work for private customers and companies, as well as musicals and theaters. Fostering talented employees and training apprentices are also key concerns, Karin says. But the most important thing is to do what she enjoys, says Karin.
Our series "Stories from the inner city
In the series "Geschichten aus der Innenstadt" (Stories from the city center), we regularly present a business from St.Gallen's city center. We follow the relay principle, whereby the portrayed business always recommends a next business. The team of "Die Manufaktur" would like to have the store "Platzhirsch Optik" in the portrait.
