120 Years of Quality 

Established in 1891 by Jacques Leutenegger, an immigrant from Switzerland, J. Leutenegger Pty Ltd  had  its  roots  in  importing  Swiss  lace  and  ribbons.  Based  in  Brisbane, Mr.  Leutenegger continued to travel overseas regularly to source goods for his company, a tradition continued by the company today. His family took over the business following Jacques death  in 1909 and they  ran  it  for  3  generations  until  1986. As well  as  haberdashery,  the  business  had  a  large millinery arm producing the majority of Queensland’s ladies fashion hats and school headwear. 

The business was publicly floated in 1992, and acquired Mountcastle Pty Ltd and John Bardsley Hats Pty Ltd, making Leutenegger the largest manufacturer of hats in Australia and exclusively supplying the army, navy, air force and police force. 

In 1997 Leutenegger was taken over by HGL Ltd. The business was re‐privatised and split  into two, separating the headwear from the sewing and craft. This allowed both businesses to grow independently  with  more  effort  being  afforded  to  growing  industries.  HGL  saw  the opportunities to expand within the sewing and craft market by acquiring a number of existing companies and consolidating  into one  large business. The  first coup came  in  the  form of  the Australian subsidiary of Newey Goodman Ltd, the world’s  largest haberdashery manufacturer. Following  this,  Leutenegger acquired  the east  coast operations of Parkinson & Mann Pty  Ltd and, what was their greatest acquisition to date, the business of DMC Australia. Following the acquisition rights to DMC’s business, the world’s leading brand in embroidery and needlecraft, Leutenegger relocated to Sydney where it also acquired Beutron, the market leader in buttons. It was at this time that they also achieved distributorship of many of Americas top craft fabric brands from many major fabric houses. 

During  this period of growth and change, Leutenegger's market  share grew  substantially and business quadrupled  in  sales, making Leutenegger one of  the  largest companies operating  in the Australian and New Zealand sewing and craft industries.  

Today  Leutenegger  represents  not  only world  leading  brands  but  is  also  launching  its  own unique brands into the marketplace. In 2011 Leutenegger is proud to be celebrating 120 years of business in the sewing and craft industry in Australia. 

YOUMAY NOT KNOW OUR NAMEbut if you’ve ever stitched with DMC thread, worked a Margot tapestry or Country Threads cross stitch, embellished with Beutron buttons or quilted with Andover or Robert Kaufman fabrics then you’ve crafted with Leutenegger, Australia’s premier distributor of patchwork fabrics, embroidery supplies and haberdashery.

Established in 1891 by Jacques Leutenegger, an immigrant from Switzerland, the business had its roots in importing Swiss lace and ribbons. By the late 1990s Leutenegger had expanded its interests in the sewing and craft market and represented many of the world’s leading brands. Today we also represent Australia’s foremost names in craft and have developed our own brands of quality Australian designed products including Make It and Beutron.

In 2011 Leutenegger is proud and honoured to celebrate 120 years of business in the sewing and craft industry in Australia. Keep an eye out in the coming months for our birthday competitions in your favourite Express craft magazines and on our blog, Two Ducks Swimming, our way of thanking you for supporting craft in Australia. We look forward to bringing you the best that Australia and the world has to offer for many years to come.

visit us at www.leutenegger.com.au or www.twoducksswimming.blogspot.com

T Y P E F A C E I S B O O K A N T I Q U A . 2 4 0 P T K E R N I N G

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