Manufacturers of "Plauener Spitze" see stable business

"Plauener Spitze" is considered a high-priced niche product - according to the manufacturers, they are defying the crises. (Archive image) / Photo: Hendrik Schmidt/dpa

Changing crises

The "Plauener Spitze" - once the city's most important bestseller and traditional product - has been struggling with changing crises for decades, however. "The focus on major customers and mass production no longer works due to cheap competition from Asia. But the division into many small, very different customers has a stabilizing effect," explains Reinhardt. Manufacturers advertise "Plauen lace" as a "high-priced, handcrafted niche product with tradition".

The usefulness of dividing up small orders among many international customers is currently becoming apparent. Exports to the USA are a cause for concern. "Sales here have now completely collapsed due to the high tariffs." This is regrettable because the US market has proven to be particularly crisis-proof so far. Japan and South Korea, on the other hand, developed slightly positively. Russia and China have "no longer played a role for some time".

Also in demand as Christmas decorations

Despite this, the loss of the USA is "not immediately a threat to our existence", says Reinhardt. "Foreign markets always fluctuate." Due to the specialization of the manufacturing companies, lace is now not only sold as curtains or table linen, but is also used as window decoration, fashion accessories, Christmas tree decorations or in the technical sector as fibre-plastic processing. "The items are often produced in smaller quantities or made to measure. Everything is discussed more digitally and directly with the customer," says Reinhardt. In addition to the six brand companies, there are other embroidery companies in the area, but they do not use the protected name "Plauener Spitze".

The brand celebrated international success after its presentation at the World Exhibition in Paris in 1900 and experienced a heyday around 1910. From 1990, the industry, which once employed thousands of people, experienced a downturn.

Manufacturers of "Plauener Spitze" see stable business

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Changing crises

Also in demand as Christmas decorations

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