About us

Why extremtextil?

Have you ever thought about sewing a backpack, a tarp or a cozy fleece blanket according to your own ideas and designs? No? That's a shame . . .

If you had, you would have faced a big problem in germany in 2003: Where could you get the materials you needed? Sooner or later, the search would have led you to the UK or the US – because until then, it was very difficult, if not impossible, to find the right fabrics in Germany.

Fortunately, those days are now over! Since 2004, extremtextil has been a specialist retailer of high-quality materials for outdoor and sports applications. In addition to the necessary know-how, the range includes high-quality outdoor fabrics and a wide range of accessories. extremtextil offers you the opportunity to realize your outdoor dream not on the trail, but at your sewing machine. So: get inspired, make a plan, grab your scissors and ruler, and get to work on the sewing machine (it's not that hard to use)!

Who is extremtextil?

It all started as a one-man business run by me (Martin) in Berlin. After 26 years in Freiburg, the gateway to the Black Forest, I moved to the Spree metropolis in 1998. After five years as a student, graphic designer, and outdoor salesman, the idea slowly took shape. For several years, the proportion of self-sewn and handcrafted items in my summer and winter gear had been steadily increasing. The search for fabrics, which was mostly unsuccessful in Germany, had repeatedly led me abroad. In 2003, the idea of closing this supply gap in this country matured. In January 2004, extremtextil was founded. Thanks to many loyal customers and dear, hard-working employees, the part-time one-man business has now become a full-time job for a small team. At the end of 2007, Christian, a committed ultralight fan and Thru-Hiker, joined us as our first packing assistant, and in 2009, Sina came on board as a full-time colleague for emails, orders, advice, and good vibes. Unfortunately, we had to say goodbye to our Berlin packing trio Christian, Till, and Alex in 2009, as after more than 10 years in the big city, they decided to move to the somewhat smaller city of Dresden. Since October 2009, we have been working in new (and naturally larger) premises, continuing to support hobbyists, sewers, MYOG ers, ultralight enthusiasts, and many more with the finest materials for their projects.

I look forward to many more exciting years ahead. Yours sincerely,

Martin Gaebert (and of course the rest of the extremtextil team).

The extremtextil team

Martin: Founder and owner
Sina: Responsible for sales, purchasing, consulting, color
Danny: Shipping, consulting
Clemens: Shipping, consulting
Connie: Accounting
Stephan: Shipping and purchasing
Alex: Sample shipping, shipping
Thomas: Shipping, consulting
Sarah: Sewing, shipping
Tom: Consulting, purchasing
Tim: Shipping
Lowis: Shipping

What is extremtextil?

extremtextil operates purely as an online mail order company. At www.extremtextil.de you will find a clearly structured website divided into two main areas:

1.: The shop

With lots of pictures, a constantly growing range divided into categories, and all the necessary information such as water column, thread strength, color, and finish, you can select the appropriate materials. Of course, we also offer all the necessary accessories such as buckles, webbing, sewing thread, zippers, seam sealers, etc. If the information provided is not sufficient, samples of all fabrics can be ordered. If you have any questions, we will be happy to answer them by email or phone.

2.: Tips for DIY

This section aims to answer many (though probably not all) questions that arise when making your own outdoor equipment. There is a wealth of information on processing and materials in general, step-by-step instructions with lots of illustrations for replication, a glossary of technical terms, literature recommendations, and a list of links on the topic.