The Vision and Legacy of Maison Gassmann

Katja Hahnloser (34) is the creative director and co-owner of the fashion house Otto Jacques Gassmann AG in Zurich. Founded in 1882, the company is now run by fifth-generation siblings, Michael and Katja Hahnloser-Nageshwaran. Originally focused on production, the business has evolved over the years into a luxury retail destination featuring international brands. In addition to the women’s store Maison Gassmann, they also operate the children’s store Ballon Rouge and a joint venture with Talbot Runhof.

Involved in the family business since childhood, Katja has taken on various roles, from helping with fashion shows behind the scenes to dressing models and working in sales on weekends. Over the years, she gained valuable industry experience, which was further expanded during her time at other companies. After high school, she completed an internship at Akris, where she gained insights into different departments – an experience that proved useful when she took over the family business in 2011. At just 21 years old, while completing her Master’s degree in Business Innovation from the University of St. Gallen (HSG), Katja took over the leadership of the company. Today, she runs the company alongside her brother. With her family’s support and the inspiration drawn from her ancestors’ legacy, she has helped shape Maison Gassmann into the thriving business it is today, with a clear vision for the future.

Safar: Katja Hahnloser-Nageshwaran, your family business is 143 years old and you’re the fifth generation. How does it feel carrying on this family legacy?
Katja Hahnloser-Nageshwaran: It’s both inspiring and daunting. On one hand, I feel pride drawing from our rich history. On the other, there’s pressure – I don’t want to be the one to make a mistake that could end it all. Looking back at what my ancestors achieved, they faced many challenges but adapted and evolved through resilience and innovation. Their legacy inspires me to stay inventive and flexible, adapting the business to the needs of our time.

Did you always want to carry on the family business?
I was never pushed into it, though I was motivated from a young age. But, there came a point when I had to make a decision on the spot – my dad had to stop working due to burnout, and I had to decide whether to take over. In hindsight, I wish I had more time to decide or gain experience at other companies beforehand, but I believe I made the right choice. I was 21 at the time, but my mother supported me for the first five years, until my brother joined.

What is it like working with your family?
It’s both rewarding and challenging. There’s a lot of trust because we share the same goals and responsibilities. However, family dynamics can challenge business relationships. My brother and I made a big effort to figure out those dynamics, even attending therapy. Now, we’ve found our place and have clear roles: he handles operations and finances, while I do all the creative work and IT. It turned out to be the best split of responsibilities.

What is the biggest change you have seen in Maison Gassmann’s history?
Maison Gassmann started with production. We had two factories and this boutique, which the founder’s wife ran. They sold their own clothes line and those of other stores. In the 1930s, there was a big shift from production to retail. As production in Switzerland became more expensive, the business focused on retail. Another big change came with the fashion industry evolving from selling individual pieces like skirts or blouses to offering entire collections, which reshaped how stores operated. Another big change in the past 10 years in the industry is the role of online retail and digital integration.

How do you select the brands for your store?
It’s the process of finding out what fits in our store and what’s in demand, while considering the price-to-value ratio. We like to offer unique brands that can’t be found everywhere, but also well-known names like MaxMara.

Would you consider opening a men’s store?
Men’s fashion is very different, and we’d need the right specialist to manage it. We’re open to the idea in the future.

What is your best memory since you started working at Maison Gassmann?
The 140th anniversary celebration. It brought everything together – all the years of work and a chance to reflect on our history.

How do you plan to prepare the next generation?
If the next generation is interested, I’d involve them in the business early, just as my parents did with us. However, I’d also encourage them to gain experience abroad and work for other companies before returning to bring fresh perspective to Maison Gassmann.

It would be amazing for your business to span multiple generations and reach a milestone of 200 years.
That would be amazing. We are a very stubborn family, which is necessary to push through everything, find solutions and be positive. As we are a small family business, it’s getting more difficult nowadays with bigger companies. But an appreciation for small businesses is coming back and the clients really want to support small businesses. International clients love to see a heritage and keep coming back whenever they’re in Zurich. It‘s always lovely to hear from someone coming from far away, who can shop anywhere, yet chooses to come to us – it‘s truly motivating.

Do you envision expanding internationally?
Right now, our focus is on perfecting our concept in Zurich. We currently have three stores: a women’s store, a children’s store and a joint venture with a German brand. Once we’ve refined our approach here, we might consider expanding or creating our own brand.

What keeps you motivated to push forward each day?
Fashion’s constant change is what I love most. Every season brings something fresh. Even though the work remains consistent, it always feels new – with evolving styles and designers.

What is your vision for Maison Gassmann?
We want to refine our connection with clients and possibly develop our own collection or future stores. We want to focus on women. Although the business started with my great great grandfather, women played an integral role – his wife ran the boutique and then his daughter took over. We would like to combine fashion and women in business.

What advice would you give to someone entering fashion retail or a family business?
Familiarize yourself with all aspects of the business to understand its operations. Learn to build and lead a team, because you can’t do everything alone. Delegation and finding the right people are very important skills.