Sigvaris

Switzerland
Founded 1864

Sigvaris is the oldest manufacturer we carry, and still owned by the family that started it. The Ganzoni business opened in Winterthur in 1864 making elastic textiles; medical compression came almost a century later, developed at the end of the 1950s with the phlebologist Karl Sigg and introduced in 1961. The stocking took his name — SIG from Sigg, VARIS from varices — and the principle behind it, pressure that is highest at the ankle and eases up the leg, is still how compression therapy works.

From them we carry the Essential and Style lines — including Supima cotton, merino wool, linen, bamboo viscose and Sea Island cotton knits for people whose skin reacts badly to synthetics — the Motion range built for standing work and sport, and the Specialty lines: natural rubber for the highest compression classes, and the Advance arm sleeve for lymphedema.

They also make the garments that take over when a pull-on stocking stops being practical. The Compreflex, Coolflex and Compreboot wraps fasten with adjustable straps instead of being pulled on, which matters for chronic edema and for anyone who cannot manage a compression stocking unaided.