California Apparel News

Textile executive Werner Bieri died on Nov. 2 after a long battle with leukemia. He was 60.

Bieri was the former president and founding chief executive officer of Buhler Quality Yarns, the Jefferson, Ga., spinning mill Bieri opened in 1996 for Buhler’s parent company, Zurich, Switzerland–based Hermann Bühler AG.

Bieri got his start with the 201-year-old Swiss spinning mill in 1984. He served as managing director for 11 years before moving to the U.S. to open Buhler Quality Yarns. At the time, Hermann Bühler’s U.S. business was growing. The company had been buying Supima cotton from the U.S., shipping it to Switzerland to spin it and then exporting it back to the U.S.

An American mill made economic sense for the business, which over the years has seen its U.S. business shift from large sheeting companies to knitting mills located in the U.S. and Central and South America. Under Bieri’s tenure, the company expanded beyond Supima cotton yarn to also spin MicroModal and Supima/MicroModal blends.

A company statement praised Bieri’s accomplishments—and his kind nature: “It is thanks to his tireless commitment and his strategic skills that Buhler Quality Yarns Corp. survived the upheaval of the American textiles industry to become the successful company that it is today. Mr. Bieri will be remembered not only for his work with Buhler but for his leadership in the industry and for the warmth and wisdom he infused in all that he did.”

Bieri was an integral part of the international textile community. He served on the executive board of the National Council of Textile Organizations, on the boards of Cotton Council International and the National Cotton Council, and was a member of the spinners committee of the International Textile Manufacturers Institute. He also served as a member of the Cotton Board from 2001 until his death.

In September, Bieri was named Supima “Man of the Year” at the organization’s annual meeting. He was only the seventh person to receive the honor in Supima’s 59-year history.

“Werner was a great friend, trusted business associate and an industry innovator,” said Jeff Elder, vice president of marketing for J.G. Boswell Co. “From his humble location in Jefferson, Ga., he grew the Buhler brand to international prominence. Already, condolences have been received from as far as India, Pakistan, Malaysia and Brazil.”

Elder and his colleagues at J.G. Boswell were longtime business associates of Bieri. The giant California farm supplies Buhler Quality Yarns with all of its Pima cotton fiber.

“Werner was always full of life and full of passion,” Elder continued. “The stress of business and the tiredness that comes from international travel never affected him, which is why it is so hard to comprehend that he is no longer with us. He was a truly unique individual [who] was equally respected by suppliers, customers and competitors. I will miss him greatly as will all his friends at the J.G. Boswell Co. and his good friends throughout the textile world.”

Bieri is survived by his wife, Astuti Sari Bieri; daughters Carolina and Cassandra; sisters Heidi Bieri and Marlies Rubin, both of Switzerland; and brother Ernest Bieri of Canada.

In lieu of flowers, the Bieri family requests donations be made to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Donor Services, P.O. Box 4072, Pittsfield, MA 01202. To donate online, visit www.lls.org.