The Hudson Valley is one of America's most beautiful areas, celebrated for its lush greenery and picturesque towns. For those of us located in New York City, the Hudson Valley is a kind of utopia - a place of fresh air, gorgeous lakes, and open spaces - not to mention the area's countless award-winning vineyards.
While the Hudson Valley seems a natural fit for the celebrated fabric producer, they've only been based in this location since 1980, while their rich history stretches all the way back to 1550 when the Meyer family became involved in tanning in Eisenberg, East Thuringia - an area now located in east-central Germany.
After steadily growing a business in Europe and increasing their knowledge of tanning and the special treatments required for a diverse array of animal skins, the Meyers relocated to Philadelphia in 1830, and then New Jersey in 1856. Shortly after, the business was incorporated under the name still used today - Richard E. Meyer & Sons.
In 1981, Meyer & Sons relocated to Montgomery, NY and settled into their new home in the Hudson Valley. The company continued to produce incredible leathers in addition to other products such as hand-bound books, shoes, and lederhosen - recalling their German heritage.
In 1999, at 27, Jesse Meyer - the family's eldest son - created a new branch of Richard E. Meyer & Sons called Pergamena ('parchment' in Italian), which specializes in the production of elegant parchment fabric. Unlike leather which is tanned through a carefully controlled chemical process, parchment is produced using a completely different method called liming. Liming involves the soaking of hides in an alkali solution which removes unwanted proteins and natural grease and fats. Because parchment does not undergo the tanning process, it is more fragile fabric than leather, and is highly reactive to changes in humidity.
In 2006, a talented new hire, Ellen Sigunik, joined the team and was immediately inspired by the company's parchments. After spending some time exploring the possible uses of this material in interior décor and design, she started her own company, Sigunik Studio.
Today, Richard E. Meyer & Sons, and its two subsidiaries, Pergamena and Sigunik Studio, work closely to produce the very finest animal hide fabrics available today. Their inspired vision and long history of excellence have won them the admiration of top apparel and interior designers throughout the world.