Gitta and Peter established their headquarters in Berlin – the city where they had lived for years. While the two laid the foundation for Merz b. with the first collection and a sales strategy. Rudolf Loder persistently tinkered with the old machines in Albstadt.
It took a whole year to restore the complex machines. To this day, it is a challenge to find people who can operate these old machines.

The project caused a stir in the old textile stronghold. The descendants of Balthasar Merz were particularly fascinated by the entrepreneurial vision. They offered the Plotnickis the original brand name “Merz b. Schwanen”.