Where the finishing touch is added to stylish corporate fashion

The hill was pretty steep on the last part of our journey to Albstadt on the Swabian Alps. Right up at the top, as if they were sitting on a throne, we found clothing supplier and finisher Daiber with their huge production and warehouse halls.  With their own brands, JAMES & NICHOLSON (high quality corporate wear and functional clothing) and myrtle beach (headgear and accessories), they are revolutionising the market for top-class corporate fashion and now have a broad customer base.

When Kai Gminder, CEO and a member of the fourth generation to run the company, started working at Daiber after gaining his degree, all the company's products were still being sold under the umbrella brand, Daiber.  After a number of visits to in-house exhibitions and specialist trade fairs, it quickly became clear to him that retailers were increasingly looking for brand names, so he developed the brands James & Nicholson and myrtle beach, which are still today a success on the market. As a brand, James & Nicholson is synonymous with functional sportswear for almost any kind of sport and fashionable leisurewear and jackets, but is equally well known for classic business wear and robust workwear.  James & Nicholson has just the right clothing for any everyday situation, for men and women and in almost 40 colours and plus sizes up to size 6XL. And if you are looking for fashionable and functional headgear and on-trend accessories that look great worn with the James & Nicholson collection – that's where myrtle beach comes in. Their wide range of different cap shapes, colours and types of hat is quite unique and at the same time highly innovative.  As well as headgear, the collection also includes a range of stylish scarves and gloves.

Despite the difficult situation this year, Daiber has managed to bring out 50 new products and a new catalogue. And they have done this with a clear aim and quite deliberately in order to send out a message that they are still there, driving ahead with full power. They also want to send a signal to their partners that their fighting spirit is still intact and to stimulate new business and new ideas with their latest innovations. Digitalisation has also played a major and important role in this year's happenings – Daiber have made a point of addressing the subject of 'Fear of digitalisation in commerce' with a series of webinars. Already today, 70 – 80% of Daiber's orders come directly into their warehouse and can leave the building the same day.  And the trend is on the rise!

The coronavirus pandemic has not put paid to sustainability. In the promotional materials industry, and at Daiber too, sustainability remains a top priority. As a clothing manufacturer, Daiber's collections are increasingly moving towards the use of organic cotton and no longer use normal polyester, but rather recycled polyester. Yet that's not enough for Kai Gminder. He is reworking all the company's production processes and analysing the various steps in production.  This can soon lead to savings in water and electricity consumption, for example, or a reduction in the use of chemicals.

Daiber is especially strong in the workwear sector – it may well be that this area was responsible for seeing the company through the crisis. This product group covers an enormous range. "Quality starts with the right work clothing. It has to be functionally suited to the type of work in question and should be comfortable and provide optimal protection. At the same time, it also needs to be fashionable and has to fit each person's figure perfectly. James & Nicholson offers polo-shirts, T-shirts, sleeveless jackets, fleece jackets, softshell jackets, trousers, Bermuda shorts, caps, beanies and many other workwear items. Outfits with, for example, padded knees, jackets with reinforced shoulder or arm sections or jackets and trousers with extra pockets all ensure that the wearer is perfectly kitted out for a hard day's work.  Take a look for yourself!