A look behind the collection
Since about a year, Elisa Meyer and David Salzgeber have been jointly developing Getzner Textil’s shirting collections. While Elisa brings in new perspectives, David draws on ten years of experience within the company. Together, they translate trends into distinctive designs with a clear creative direction. In the interview, they offer insights into their work.
How does a new collection come to life?
David: It doesn’t start with designing right away – it begins with a solid foundation. We look at trend forecasts, analyze the market, and review our sales data. This helps us understand what has worked well – and where we can build on it.
Elisa: Trend forecasts are based on societal developments – what is happening globally and how this is reflected in colors and materials. From this, initial ideas emerge, such as how colors can be combined. We translate these impulses into a color world that fits our collection and our customers.
Where do you find inspiration for your designs?
Elisa: Inspiration is always around us – on the streets, in stores, or even while watching series. Everywhere, you come across colors, shapes, and patterns that you naturally absorb and integrate into your work.
David: Exactly – inspiration really comes from everywhere. We consciously or unconsciously collect these impressions and bring them into our work. For example, you might see a specific color and immediately think: what would this look like as a yarn color for us? That’s how new ideas for the collection gradually take shape.
What are the biggest challenges?
David: Our task is to develop something new without losing our reference point – to evolve what already exists rather than simply repeating it. In the end, the designs need to fit Getzner Textil and our customers: not too extravagant, yet still fresh, innovative, and inspiring.
Elisa: Finding this balance is the real challenge. We move between modern and timeless, between trend and continuity. At the same time, we develop many variations to cover a wide range without repeating ourselves.
David: There’s also the factor of time: one collection seamlessly leads into the next. Around 400 idents are created per collection – alongside individual customer projects. So it never gets boring.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
Elisa: There’s a very special moment when you hold your own idea in your hands as a finished fabric. Standing in the collection room and seeing how an idea has turned into a real product is something that inspires me every time.
David: Our designs later appear with customers such as Hanro, Hugo Boss, or Oscar of Sweden – and even in everyday life. I have a strong passion for art, aesthetics, and beautiful things. The best part of my job is that I get to create exactly that every day.
Finally: Do you prefer summer or winter collections?
David: In terms of color, we both tend to lean more towards autumn and winter collections.
Elisa: Exactly. I enjoy designing for winter more, for example when we develop patterns for flannel shirts, where relaxed checks work particularly well.
Thank you for the interview!
