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75 years of MAWA
75 years of MAWA - we're celebrating our anniversary
More than just clothes hangers
In 2021, MAWA was named one of the Brands of the Century, proving that even everyday objects can become brands with a strong identity. This fulfilled the vision of Managing Director Michaela Schenk. But where do our everyday heroes come from, and how long have they been around? On our 75th anniversary, it's high time to take a look back.
How it all began
Perhaps you've also wondered what MAWA actually stands for? MAWA is a combination of the first and last names of the founder – Martin Wagner. He founded the clothes hanger manufacturer MAWA in 1948 in Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm, Bavaria, the very same place where our metal clothes hangers are still produced today.
Innovation is our strength – then as now
The first trouser stretcher
Just seven years after its founding, in 1955, the first trouser stretcher was created here, which Martin Wagner patented. This was an absolute novelty on the market and met with great enthusiasm, not only among our end customers in the 1950s.
So that everything stays in its place
The first MAWA hangers were equipped with our proven anti-slip effect in 1960. MAWA hangers still feature this anti-slip coating today, even though the coating formula has changed since then.
Continuing on the road to success
In the 1960s, Martin Wagner employed 200 people who hand-produced 120,000 metal hangers daily. However, demand, especially abroad, continued to rise, leading to full automation of production in 1985. Twenty years later, the clothes hanger manufacturer went bankrupt, and two years after that, entrepreneur Michaela Schenk took over the company.
The restart
Our tried-and-tested metal clothes hangers are still produced in Pfaffenhofen, Bavaria – so we continue to rely on quality made in Germany. Nevertheless, much has changed since then. While our favorites are based in Bavaria, they are popular all over the world, in 86 countries to be precise.
Furthermore, we place great importance on sustainability and environmental compatibility. For this reason, MAWA committed to the AGENDA 2030 in 2015, aiming for CO2-neutral production by 2030. But that's not all. MAWA has also created the ECO friendly and SKIN friendly labels.
These guarantees ensure that harmful substances are strictly prohibited in our products; this applies to toxic plasticizers as well as heavy metals and toxic dyes. Furthermore, our wooden hangers are made from certified, high-quality beechwood and finished with a water-based lacquer – for the health of our customers and for the environment.
We see sustainability as a holistic issue – that means we already consider the recyclability and environmental compatibility of our raw materials when selecting and procuring them.
We always stay one step ahead
Since MAWA's founding in 1948, the brand has never lost its innovative edge; quite the opposite. For our new favorites, our ECO hangers, we rely on biogenic materials – materials of organic origin – such as old clothes or plant waste, which we breathe new life into. From these, we create new, high-quality, and durable items that are in no way inferior to our other hangers in terms of quality or design. For your health and the preservation of the environment. Want to learn more about our collection? Then find more information here about MAWA & sustainability, as well as about our new everyday helpers.
However, for our 75th anniversary, we don't just want to look back on MAWA's history, but also give a voice to the people who have made MAWA what it is today: our employees. That's why you'll find new stories from everyday life at MAWA here over the next few months – not just stories about exceptional irons, but also about exceptional people.
Furthermore, we would like to thank our customers for their enthusiasm and loyalty – with numerous discount promotions and a brand new anniversary combo – It's going to be exciting!
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