In Conversation: Our Head of Purchasing on Quality, Responsibility, and the Art of Buying
November 16, 2025
Behind every luxurious Christian Fischbacher bed linen lies years of expertise and a deep passion for high-quality textiles. Benedikt Schweighart, our Head of Purchasing, brings extensive experience in the textile industry and is responsible for sourcing the finest materials for our collections. In this interview, he provides insights into the world of global textile purchasing, discusses the challenges of sustainable sourcing, and explains what luxury means to him in the world of bed linen. A conversation about quality, responsibility, and the art of finding the best business partners.
How important are long-term relationships with suppliers and weavers to you – and how do you maintain them?
When entering into a supplier relationship, the aspect of long-term collaboration is at the forefront from the very beginning. The goal is always mutual benefit – for Christian Fischbacher as a customer on one side and for the supplier on the other. We require reliability, predictability, and consistency from our suppliers – just as every supplier expects these same qualities from their customers to operate efficiently and successfully.
Christian Fischbacher sets high standards for product quality, innovation, consistency, reliability, and solution-oriented thinking – all factors that can only be achieved over the long term and that a supplier will only commit to if a long-term partnership is a core objective. I always try to communicate directly with suppliers, actively shape our collaboration, align on possible solutions, define requirements and standards together, and, when necessary, agree on mutual compromises.
Objective and regular performance evaluations of suppliers also form a valuable foundation for lasting, stable cooperation. At Christian Fischbacher, we pursue these goals not only for strategically important materials but also for consumables and operating supplies.
However, long-term supplier relationships do not mean that we ignore changes in the market. Even as market conditions evolve and sometimes require rethinking existing partnerships, we consistently strive for long-term business relationships – because we are convinced that trust and reliability make the decisive difference, especially in challenging times.
Is there a production site or manufacturer you particularly enjoy working with – and what makes that relationship so special?
I can’t say my decisions and actions are entirely free of personal preference. Yes, there are regions and producers I particularly enjoy working with and that I prefer. Our main sourcing region is focused on Europe – not only because we value short delivery routes and fast response times, but also because I believe that Europe and its neighboring regions remain highly textile-oriented, innovative, quick to adapt to market changes, and always quality-driven.
This of course also applies to individual textile producers. I prefer working with companies where the textile spirit is palpable – where fabrics are developed and manufactured with passion and enthusiasm – rather than with those that act anonymously and have little connection to the product. I remain convinced that because of these qualities, the European textile and apparel industry continues to have a justified place in the market and strong opportunities to remain successful for a long time to come.
What challenges does global purchasing face today?
First of all – regardless of globalization, purchasing has always come with challenges. These challenges make the work dynamic and exciting, and they motivate us to stay engaged in this field.
I would like to highlight a few key challenges in global sourcing – without ranking them by impact or frequency:
- Complexity of the textile value chain: The various components of a finished product are produced in different regions of the world and must be available on time and in the right quantities for final production.
- Geopolitical situation: Unfortunately, this has worsened in recent years, negatively affecting factors such as security, predictability, stability, and reliability.
- Opportunities ↔ Risks: Global sourcing expands supplier and product options but increases demands on communication and information flow. Market transparency tends to decrease, while economic risks rise.
- Climate change: This impacts cotton yields and production methods, making markets more volatile and unpredictable.
- Digitalization: It allows for greater transparency, efficiency, and simplicity in many processes, but also accelerates change – often faster than organizations can adapt.
- Governmental, regulatory, and supranational frameworks: These are mostly necessary, yet they also increase process complexity, reduce transparency, and make organizations more cumbersome.
- Diversity and variety: These have a positive effect on product development and creativity but must be well-organized and purposefully managed.
How do you handle compromises – or do they simply not exist in your work?
In business, compromises are inevitable. Especially in the textile world, compromises are, for better or worse, part of everyday life. Given the complex structures, organizations, and long value chains involving numerous participants, it’s impossible for every step to align perfectly as planned.
Deviations, discrepancies, and problems can always occur. The key is to address them through a willingness to compromise and to develop optimal solutions for all parties involved. For me, finding a compromise means “give and take,” fine-tuning, and a touch of improvisation – always with the goal of achieving the best possible outcome for everyone.
What does “luxury” mean to you personally in the world of bed linen?
In general, I associate “luxury” with being extraordinary, positively lavish, exclusive, and individual. In the world of textiles and bed linen, other aspects such as durability and consistency, artistic design language, noble, high-quality materials, and craftsmanship also contribute to a sense of luxury.
To me, luxurious products and services are not everyday items, nor are they subject to passing trends or lifestyles. They are created by people and organizations devoted to a vision, which they pursue consistently, purposefully, and with dedication. Textiles and home furnishings are ideally suited to embody many of the qualities associated with luxury.
Since I’m surrounded by textiles 24 hours a day, my expectations of them are naturally very high – and I want to live up to those expectations daily. At Christian Fischbacher, I also have the opportunity to actively contribute to the brand’s and the product’s luxury philosophy through my work. This creates a unique professional and personal symbiosis for me.