The origins of the present-day Pongees Ltd lie in Switzerland, a country that has historical connections with silk trading with China stretching back over many hundreds of years. In the mid 19th century Ostertag Hausamann Faes was established and quickly became a leading silk trader. 

In 1931 a branch office was opened in London under the name Pongees Ltd – pongee being a generic term for a group of Chinese silks that were especially popular at that time. The main business was selling greige fabric to the printing industry for silk ties and scarves. 

We retain links with the original business through our chairman Christian Hausamann, a grandson of one of the founders, and are one of the few silk suppliers to have a  showroom in the capital.