Stehli Silks (formerly Stehli Silks Corporation) was a Swiss textile manufacturing company. Founded in 1837, Stehli Silks was among the largest silk fabric producers in the world, with a workforce exceeding 4,000 people (1920) at its peak.[1] More than half of its workforce was employed at the subsidiary Stehli Silks Corporation in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, which opened in 1897.
In 1996, the concern ceased manufacturing operations, and was converted into a real estate company that was only active in Switzerland (Stehli-Areal in Obfelden, ZH).[2][3][4] The former mills in Lancaster were sold to Stehli Mill, LLC, a joint-venture between Rhode Island and Maryland-based real estate developers, but their redevelopment efforts stalled.In 2015, the former mills in Lancaster were added to the National Register of Historic Places.[5] In 2023, the new developers began construction of 165 loft-style apartments in the former silk mills with plans to market the redeveloped site as Stehli Mill Lofts.[6][7][8][9][10]
Under the second generation with Robert Stehli and Emil Stehli, sons of Rudolf, the textile concern expanded operations and merchant activities overseas. Initially, Emil expanded to the Kingdom of Italy in 1885. He took-over a silk mill that was formed in 1840 by Swiss Francesco Huber and was currently owned and managed by Cesare Bozzotti, in Germignaga on Lake Como. Stehli further purchased two more production plants in Porto Valtravaglia and Prassede.
Robert Stehli of the firm of Stehli & Co. of Zurich, Switzerland, and Robert M. Bartow of New York, the American correspondent of the firm, are in New York and this afternoon closed a deal with the Board of Trade whereby the firm will at once establish a large silk industry in the United States.
Work on the erection of the new plant was to begin at once. As soon as the building was ready for occupancy, 1,000 looms will be put in operation in the manufacture of silks. The new industry will employ only American labor, and the plant will be the largest in the United States.
In 1977, the Swiss factories stopped producing silk due to profitability. Initially, production remained in Italy and the Swiss headquarters were still responsible for design and sales distribution. In 1996, all textile operations seized.[17] Stehli Seiden AG (formed in 1958) remained as real estate company and today manages the former manufacturing plants, who all were turned into residential lofts until 2016.[18][19]
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