Shirts and blouses to perfection eterna Mode GmbH is certified according to the OEKO-TEX Standard 100plus The OEKO-TEX Standard 100plus product label enables textile and clothing manufacturers to document to their customers with one single test mark, the human-ecological optimisation of their products according to the OEKO-TEX Standard 100 and their environmentally-friendly production conditions according to the OEKO-TEX Standard 1000. It must also be proven that the entire production chain, i.e. every single production phase irrespective of where it takes place, is certified according to OEKO-TEX Standard 1000. eterna has been OEKO-TEX Standard 100plus certified since 2000. This has enabled eterna, as a leading global producer of shirts and blouses, to guarantee its sustainability in the process chain and product portfolio. Quality and responsibility Very early on eterna developed a corporate philosophy which embraced a high awareness of quality, a clear commitment to environmental protection and sustainability as well as exemplary working conditions. eterna CEO Peter Rentsch emphasises, We consider the commitment to environmental protection as our corporate and social responsibility. Accordingly the company places great emphasis on the fact that all the businesses and suppliers involved in manufacturing its products follow environmentally-compatible production procedures. Awarding the production sites with the OEKO-TEX Standard 1000 certificate requires that each individual production phase along the textile production chain is transparent. eterna is supported by a long-standing and geographically closely interlinked production network, which ensures that it delivers a consistently high quality of materials and processing. Peter Rentsch sees even more benefits. The longterm cooperation with our partners enables us to respond quickly to market trends, as well as to consistently deliver excellent quality due to our faster production processes. The eterna product portfolio is based on the Swiss fabrics of 100 percent swiss+cotton, a particularly high-value and non-iron quality of cotton. Extra-long stapled cotton is used exclusively and only about three percent of worldwide harvests meet this standard. The fabrics are woven, prepared and finished in Switzerland. Partner companies weba Weberei Appenzell AG and AG Cilander use state-of-the art machinery. The work processes as well as the use of auxiliary materials, dyes and chemicals are optimised for their environmental impact. The eterna shirts and blouses are made in Bánovce in Slovakia, where eterna has its own clothing manufacturing business employing 730 people and which produces about 8,000 shirts per day in two shifts. Much effort has been deployed to provide above-average working conditions there. For instance the work stations in the sewing area are not only designed to be functional and ergonomic, but they are also and this is by no means usual appropriately illuminated. The other facilities provided by the company such as the in-house canteen and sports activity are also widely used by 1 / 6
the employees. All the activities are coordinated and consolidated by the eterna Logistics Centre in Passau. All the eterna partner companies involved in the textile production chain stand out due to the sustainability planned into all their work areas as required by OEKO-TEX Standard 1000. This also extends to the development of long-term relationships between customers and suppliers as well as to the esteem of the very employees themselves. Peter Rentsch is convinced of this. Our employees have always been an important aspect of eterna's corporate success. It is for this reason that we continue to ensure excellent continuing training and vocational training opportunities and a good working environment. Perfect brand image The very brand name of eterna (Latin for eternal ) is an indication of the aspiration of the company to create the highest possible processing and quality standards, and as a result, durable products which are extremely easy to wear and care for. In 1863 the Hönigsberg brothers founded the company in Vienna that has now become eterna Mode GmbH. The invention of the semi-stiff collar, an innovation of patented double-fabric, was the cornerstone of eterna's continued success story. In 1927 a branch office was opened in Passau which was established as a company in its own right in 1935 and out of which today's site has developed. In 1997 the company expanded its capacity in Eastern Europe with its own production operation in Bánovce (Slovakia). With a total of approximately 1,070 employees with 340 in Germany and 730 in Bánovce, in 2011 the Passaubased shirt specialist produced about 3.6 million men's shirts and 600,000 women's blouses with a current export ratio of about 30%. The shirt and blouse fabrics made of 100 percent swiss+cotton are considered to be the absolute top-of-the-range weaves for the numerous eterna collections and which stand out through their sophisticated look and soft, smooth feel. According to eterna-ceo Peter Rentsch, We also need the best relationship possible between non-iron and strength, and this is why long-stapled fabrics are so important to us. The wide product range offered by eterna covers all customer needs since the items are offered in all common ready-to-wear sizes right up to extra-large sizes. For individualists eterna offers the range >1863< CUSTOM MADE which are shirts based on individual taste and where we can fully exploit our trump card as a flexible, purely European shirt producer, explains Peter Rentsch. >1863< CUSTOM MADE can also focus on specific figures and trends. Since autumn 2011 a world innovation is enriching the eterna premium segment, namely Dynamic Cotton. For the first time there are collections from pure cotton on the market, which are extensible without the addition of synthetic fibres such as elastane and which is only possible through a special webbing technique. This has enabled us to usher in a new era of wearing comfort explains a pleased Peter Rentsch, since the up to 20-percent lateral elasticity of fine cotton fabrics offers maximum freedom of movement even for figure-hugging cuts. In addition to its outstanding wearing properties, shirts and blouses made of Dynamic Cotton are also non-iron, a highly esteemed function, plus they are also certified according to the OEKO-TEX Standard 100plus label. 2 / 6
eterna has achieved this clear positioning as a quality supplier primarily through its constant focus on the retail trade. The stated objective is to present itself with a uniform, standardised brand image at the point-of-sale. Today the company has 43 wholly-owned stores and 9 franchise subsidiaries. eterna also delivers worldwide to about 5,000 retail partners in 44 countries in addition to its modern internet shopping platform. Peter Rentsch is convinced by the success of the concept. "Our vision of making eterna one of the most coveted shirt and blouse brands in Europe by 2020 comes one step closer with every product innovation, every shop opening and every sales success. We also have more unbeatable arguments, namely that the eterna brand has been established as outstanding on the market for decades and has a very high awareness level. Last but not least we are the only global ready-to-wear producer, which can demonstrate our ecologically exemplary production concept through the OEKO-TEX Standard 100plus certification and this ensures us a clear competitive advantage. Contact: eterna Mode GmbH Medienstraße 12 94036 Passau Germany Email: presse@eterna.de Internet: www.eterna.de eterna stands for shirts and blouses made of the best non-iron cotton quality. 3 / 6
The brand manufacturer from Passau is the world's first ready-to-wear producer that since 2000 has been allowed to extol its products with the OEKO-TEX Standard 100plus. The eterna shirts and blouses are made in Bánovce in Slovakia, where eterna operates a garment manufacturing business employing 730 people. 4 / 6
swiss+cotton, a very high-grade and non-iron cotton quality from Switzerland, forms the basis of the branded shirts and blouses. eterna supplies the whole of the European market from its state-of-the-art logistics centre in Passau. 5 / 6
eterna. The perfect feel. This aspiration stands for the highest possible processing and quality standards, and as a result, durable products which are extremely easy to wear and care for. About OEKO-TEX With 25 years of experience, OEKO-TEX leads the world in empowering and enabling consumers and companies to protect our planet by making responsible decisions. OEKO-TEX provides standardised solutions which optimise customers manufacturing processes and help deliver high quality, more sustainable products. All of the products within the OEKO-TEX portfolio are used to strengthen our customers systems, processes or products and, ultimately, they help create more sustainable companies.to date, 10,000 manufacturers, brands, and retailers in almost 100 countries are working with OEKO-TEX to ensure that their products are tested for potentially harmful substances and millions of consumers around the world look for OEKO-TEX labels before making buying decisions. OEKO-TEX certified products and suppliers can be located in the OEKO-TEX Online Buying Guide at www.oeko-tex.com/products. Connect with OEKO-TEX on Facebook, on LinkedIn, and on Twitter. 6 / 6